INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Democratic Republic of Congo

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has offered to (a) Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the surrounding region in 2012; and how monitoring of any such aid will occur.

Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) :
	The UK bilateral aid programme in DRC is now £140 million in 2012-13. The areas of intervention include:
	Social sectors (health, malaria, water and sanitation, education);
	Infrastructure (roads)
	Transparency and accountability (mining sector, community-driven development, public finance management, reform of the security sector).
	Future programmes will also focus on private sector development.
	An additional £18 million of humanitarian aid was announced by the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), on 30 November 2012 in response to the crisis in Eastern DRC.
	Monitoring:
	The UK Government does not give money direct to the Government of DRC. UK bilateral assistance to DRC is provided through mainly the United Nations; World Bank; and non-governmental organisations who have robust monitoring and financial accounting systems to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients. In addition, we review all our contributions regularly to ensure our funds meet the objectives for which they were intended. This is done through quarterly reporting and annual reviews in addition to field visits.
	(b) The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing the following assistance to those countries surrounding the DRC where we have a bilateral programme:
	
		
			 DFID bilateral programme, FY 2012-13 
			  £ million 
			 Uganda 98.9 
			 Rwanda 75.8 
			 South Sudan 91 
			 Tanzania 157 
			 Zambia 55 
		
	
	(c) We review all our contributions regularly to ensure our funds meet the objectives for which they were intended. This is done through quarterly reporting and annual reviews in addition to field visits.

Developing Countries: Building Regulations

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has provided to (a) Bangladesh and (b) other developing countries on building regulations and fire protection enforcement.

Alan Duncan: DFID Bangladesh supports the Government of Bangladesh's Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) to improve planning and response to many kinds of hazard, including fire. This includes training of volunteer and professional firefighters. CDMP works to improve the status and enforcement of the Bangladesh National Building Code. It also provides training to ensure contractors and technicians know how to build in line with the code.
	Robust building and fire protection codes are important for the design of buildings that are resilient to natural disasters and other shocks. It is also important to ensure that there is full compliance with the building codes during construction. Our work to help countries, such as Nepal, to assess the resilience of their urban infrastructure and their level of disaster preparedness includes consideration of these issues.
	Full information on DFID's support to developing countries on building regulations and fire protection enforcement is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Kenya

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if her Department will make representations to the Kenyan government on the urgency and importance of resuming registration of refugee populations in the Dadaab refugee camps in order to guarantee the full protection of rights and access to life-saving services for children and their families.

Lynne Featherstone: On November 15 2012, the Kenyan Government agreed to restart refugee registration in the Dadaab camps. However, this is likely to be a temporary exercise and the UK Government will continue to look for opportunities to encourage the Kenyan authorities to fully restart registration on a permanent basis.

Marie Stopes International

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether funding from her Department was used to set up a Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast;
	(2)  what reports she has received of funding from her Department to Marie Stopes International being used within the UK.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development has not received any reports which suggest that the Department's funding has been used by Marie Stopes International to support work in the UK.
	DFID's funding to Marie Stopes International (MSI) aims to deliver quality family planning and reproductive healthcare to vulnerable women in the poorest countries in Asia and Africa.

Syria

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Alan Duncan: The humanitarian situation in Syria is extremely concerning and the onset of winter will leave many more people in a vulnerable situation. The United Nations estimates that 3 million people will be in need of food aid by the end of the year. At least 1.5 million people have had to flee their homes for other areas of the country. Over 460,000 refugees are seeking urgent assistance and the numbers are rising daily. Humanitarian agencies are providing some assistance but access in some areas is difficult as security deteriorates.
	The UK is a leading donor, providing £53.5 million to deliver vital assistance to tens of thousands of people affected by the fighting. In Syria, UK aid is reaching around 100,000 people with food, over 15,000 families with essential items like blankets and mattresses. UK aid is also helping Syrian refugees in the region, providing medical support for over 25,000 people, blankets and hygiene kits for more than 18,000 people and education for 1,000 children. We continue to consider what more we can do to respond to the urgent needs of the Syrian people.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Burmese authorities on the human rights of the Rohingya.

Hugo Swire: I most recently discussed the situation in Rakhine State, the scene of the recent violence between ethnic communities, with the Burmese Minister for the President's Office, U Soe Thane, on 7 November during his visit to the UK. This followed the meeting of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and Burmese President Thein Sein in the margins of the Asia Europe Meeting in Laos on 6 November, where the Foreign Secretary called upon the Burmese Government to put an end to the violence.
	I will be visiting Burma in the coming weeks and will continue to raise our concerns about the plight of the Rohingya with the Burmese Government. I also plan to visit Rakhine State to see the situation for myself.

Egypt

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Egyptian counterpart on President Mursi's recent extension of powers.

Alistair Burt: I discussed the situation in Egypt with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Kamal Amr, on 27 November and sought reassurances that a way forward would be found. The Foreign Minister has assured me that President Mursi was in dialogue with the Egyptian judiciary and civil society, and was hopeful this would be settled soon. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Egyptian authorities and the opposition and monitor developments.

Gambia

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official contact he has had with the government of Gambia in the last four months.

Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has had no official contact with the Government of the Gambia in the last four months. On 20 October 2012, I spoke to the Gambian Foreign Minister to express the UK's concern over the Gambian Government's recent use of the death penalty. Our high commissioner in Banjul regularly engages with the Government of the Gambia on a wide range of issues including human rights, development and prosperity.

Maldives

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the dismissal of the Human Rights Minister for Maldives.

Alistair Burt: The British Government is closely monitoring events in Maldives, in conjunction with key international partners. We understand that the dismissal of Dhiyana Saeed followed her recent public criticisms of the police, and in particular the treatment of her husband during his recent arrest. We are concerned about the reports of political or physical intimidation of parliamentarians, and hope that all parties will exercise restraint in the coming months. We urge the Maldivian Government to implement the democratic reforms identified by the Commission of National Inquiry in August, and to ensure that the elections in 2013 are free, fair and fully inclusive.

Middle East

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of remarks by the Governor of Jericho on the alleged distribution of drugs by the Israeli government into Palestinian society on the wider Middle East peace process.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of these reported remarks but have not made an assessment of their effect on the wider middle east peace process.

Middle East

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote compliance with international law in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Alistair Burt: We urge all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. We do this as part of regular contact at ministerial and senior official level.
	In this context we continue to make clear to the Israeli Government our concern at ongoing settlement announcements. As we have made clear settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) are illegal under international law.
	We have also repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in East Jerusalem and the west bank. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	More generally, we continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Israel and the OPTs which we raise regularly with the Israeli authorities. More details can be found at:
	http://fcohrdreport.readandcomment.com/human-rights-n-countries-of-concern/israel-and-the-opts/

Middle East

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote compliance with international law in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Alistair Burt: We urge all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. We do this as part of regular contact at ministerial and senior official level.
	In this context we continue to make clear to the Israeli Government our concern at ongoing settlement announcements. As we have made clear settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) are illegal under international law.
	We have also repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	More generally, we continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Israel and the OPTs which we raise regularly with the Israeli authorities. More details can be found at:
	http://fcohrdreport.readandcomment.com/human-rights-n-countries-of-concem/israel-and-the-opts/

Middle East

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will lead international efforts to assist the Egyptian government in stopping the flow of illegal weaponry across its border with the Gaza Strip.

Alistair Burt: We welcome the Egyptian-led ceasefire in the recent Gaza crisis and will continue to give our full support to Egypt's efforts to tackle both the flow of illegal weaponry from the Sinai into the Gaza strip and to bring about the changes necessary to ease Israeli restrictions on Gaza.

Middle East

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions he has made representations to the government of Israel on (a) compliance with UN resolutions, (b) the Geneva Convention and (c) international law since May 2010.

Alistair Burt: We continue to urge all parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. It is important that Israel fulfils its obligations under international law. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised these issues with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 9 October. We continue to raise our concerns so frequently with the Israeli authorities that we do not track the specific number of instances. More details can be found at:
	http://fcohrdreport.readandcomment.com/human-rights-n-countries-of-concern/israel-and-the-opts/

Occupied Territories

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will take steps to prevent house demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the cessation of demolition of Palestinian homes.

Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised this issue with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 9 October 2012. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition of their homes or eviction through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.

Occupied Territories

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received to indicate the number of houses in the occupied West Bank which have been demolished since 1967.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports provided by the International Committee against House Demolitions that over 26,000 demolitions have taken place since 1967. We have made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year, as recorded by the UN, in demolitions of Palestinian properties in east Jerusalem and the west bank. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised this issue with the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) on 9 October 2012. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
	In addition we continue to support Palestinians facing demolition of their homes or eviction in the OPTs through support to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.

Sri Lanka

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation for religious minorities in Sri Lanka; and what steps he is taking to promote the right to freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: Sri Lankan people are generally free to practice their religion. But religious groups have complained of onerous administrative burdens placed on certain religions and religious education that does not take into account minority faiths. We have also received reports of discrimination against certain religious groups. Our high commission monitors developments carefully on all human rights concerns in Sri Lanka, and keeps in contact with religious leaders. We regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on all human rights issues.

Sri Lanka

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise as a matter of concern with the Government of Sri Lanka the circular from 2011 allowing local authorities to determine whether religious activities should be allowed to continue.

Alistair Burt: The British high commission in Sri Lanka is aware of this September 2011 circular but has not raised it specifically with the Sri Lankan Government. Our high commission monitors developments carefully on all human rights concerns in Sri Lanka, including religious freedom, and keeps in contact with religious leaders. We regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on all human rights issues. The British high commission will be looking in to the issue further.

Sri Lanka

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote ethnic and religious pluralism in Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: Sri Lankan people are generally free to practice their religion. But religious groups have complained of onerous administrative burdens placed on certain religions and religious education that does not take into account minority faiths. We have also received reports of discrimination against certain religious groups. Our high commission monitors developments carefully on all human rights concerns in Sri Lanka, and keeps in contact with religious leaders. We regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on all human rights issues.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Middle East

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has held with Ministers in the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) Northern Ireland Executive on using expertise within Northern Ireland of peace and reconciliation to help the Middle East peace process.

Michael Penning: We regularly receive visitors from the Middle East and elsewhere who seek to learn lessons from the Northern Ireland peace process, some referred by the Foreign Office. Such visitors are also seen at times by the Northern Ireland Executive or representatives of parties in it.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on carbon emission targets.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and I are attending the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha between 2 and 7 December 2012, where we will be meeting with international counterparts to discuss a comprehensive range of issues pertaining to international climate change including reducing carbon emissions. We will update the House on our return to the UK on progress in these discussions. Prior to the Doha conference, DECC Ministers discussed these issues with counterparts at the pre-COP conference in Seoul and the EU Environment Council in October, and at the Major Economies Forum meeting in New York in September.

Carbon Emissions

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of recent international negotiations on reducing carbon emissions.

Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and I are attending the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha between 2 and 7 December 2012, where we will be meeting with international counterparts to discuss a comprehensive range of issues pertaining to international climate change including reducing carbon emissions. We will update the House on our return to the UK on progress in these negotiations.

Energy Company Obligation

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 425W, on Warm Home discount scheme, what progress he has made on exploring whether Government data could be used to confirm a customer's eligibility for Energy Company Obligation support.

Gregory Barker: An ECO referrals service will be launched via the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) in early 2013. Government data will be used to check eligibility for ECO Affordable Warmth assistance, where the customer consents to this.
	In exchange, ECO obligated supply companies will commit to provide a minimum level of assistance to customers referred via this route through a voluntary agreement with the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
	In addition over one million pension credit recipients will be identified to the energy supply companies through the Warm Home Discount scheme in 2012-13 and will receive an energy supplier funded discount on their energy bill of £130. The State Pension Credit (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011 also allow participating energy supply companies to use the information that these customers are in receipt of pension credit to target their ECO support.

Energy Supply

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to improving grid connections with Europe in order to ensure future energy security; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Government has no direct role in building interconnectors between Britain and other European countries. Interconnection is a commercially-driven market with a number of different companies involved. Britain currently has 4 GW of interconnection with France, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Netherlands. Further interconnection is likely, with developers investigating potential projects with France, Belgium, Norway and Iceland, among others. The Government has recently commissioned analysis into the benefits and risks for Britain of further interconnection.

Energy: Prices

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the effect of his proposals for tariff reform on the profits made by the six major energy companies.

Gregory Barker: The Government is in the process of assessing, including through the analysis of evidence provided in response to our Discussion Document, “Ensuring a better deal for energy consumers”, the impact of its proposals for tariff reform on competiveness in the retail energy market, and the impact on consumer bills:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/better_deal/better_deal.aspx
	The Government do not undertake assessments specifically on the profit margins of particular companies.

Garages and Petrol Stations

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he expects the current study by Deloitte into the downstream oil industry to be completed; and if he will publish the findings of that study;
	(2)  what research his Department has conducted on the number of motor fuel filling stations required to ensure the maintenance of adequate supplies of fuels to (a) urban and (b) rural areas since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 312W.

Nuclear Power Stations

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to finance the 16GW of new nuclear power by 2025 through (a) levies additional to the Levy Control Framework cap of £7.6 billion by 2020 and (b) other financing mechanisms; if he will provide details of any such mechanisms; if he will ensure full transparency of all such funding mechanisms; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Energy Bill, now introduced, sets out the way in which low carbon projects will be funded for the future. The levy control framework sets the overall DECC budget for these projects until the end of the financial year 2020-21. Budgets post 2020-21 will be agreed nearer the time. Any nuclear projects coming online at or before end 2020-21 will fall within the existing budget; any plants that begin generating electricity post 2020-21 will be subject to future budget settlements.

Nuclear Power Stations: Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Office for Nuclear Regulation's report Japanese earthquake and tsunami: implementing the lessons for the UK's nuclear industry, published in October 2012, what the (a) cost to date has been and (b) estimated future costs will be to his Department of implementing the recommendations made specifically to Government in that report.

John Hayes: Nuclear safety is a top priority and as such any associated costs to the Department will be borne out of the overall departmental budget.
	The Government is not able to comment on any associated costs to the nuclear operating companies, as such costs are part of the overall and ongoing costs of ensuring the safe operation of nuclear facilities.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to ask the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee to carry out an analysis of the comparative (a) feasibility and (b) cost of using alternative low carbon solutions, including a combination of (i) energy demand reduction, (ii) renewable energy and (iii) investment in interconnectors, to meet the equivalent of his proposed 16GW of electricity to be provided by new nuclear power stations by 2025; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Different technology mixes to meet decarbonisation and energy security objectives have already been considered as part of the strategic work of the Department. DECC first published its 2050 calculator and pathways analysis in 2010. The model presents a framework through which to consider some of the choices and trade-offs over the next forty years. It is rooted in scientific and engineering realities, looking at what is thought to be physically and technically feasible in each sector. The calculator is system-wide, covering all parts of the economy and all greenhouse gases emissions released in the UK, and as such includes energy demand reduction opportunities, renewable energy and interconnectors. In December 2011, costs analysis was added to the 2050 calculator. In addition, DECC has recently commissioned additional analysis into the impacts of different levels of further interconnection on GB.
	While it is theoretically possible to meet our energy objectives without new nuclear, it would be very challenging to do so. We would also expect the costs of meeting the objectives to be higher without new nuclear, as it is a proven technology and expected to be the cheapest low-carbon source of electricity in the future.
	The Energy Bill, published on 29 November, contains our measures for Electricity Market Reform (EMR) which will encourage the right conditions for private sector investment in low carbon energy development. The Government do not set technology specific targets, but has designed EMR to be flexible to different outcomes and to allow opportunity for all forms of generation to come forward, to ultimately provide a least cost mix. This will enable new nuclear, alongside renewables and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, together with energy demand reduction, to play a key role in our energy mix.
	The long-term vision is a market where low carbon generators compete fairly under a robust and stable carbon price. New nuclear power should be able to contribute as much as possible to the UK's need for new capacity within that competitive framework.

Wind and Nuclear Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the (a) strike price per MW hour and (b) length of contract required for investment in (i) onshore wind, (ii) offshore wind and (iii) new nuclear power under contracts for difference; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: As set out by the Department in May of this year, I will set strike prices for renewables technologies in the EMR delivery plan, to be published in 2013. I will make an assessment of those strike prices on the basis of analysis received from the System Operator and other relevant evidence, including a report of external scrutiny by a panel of technical experts. I will then publish a draft of the first delivery plan for consultation in July 2013, and a final delivery plan by end of 2013, subject to Royal Assent on the Energy Bill.
	The Department's assessment is that the length of the feed in tariff with a contract for differences (CfD) for wind farms should be 15 years. This provides an appropriate balance between minimising the overall costs of the CfD to electricity consumers, ensuring that the CfD scheme is affordable, and facilitating lower costs of capital.
	The Government is currently in discussions with NNB Generation Company Ltd about a potential early CfD ("investment contract") for the first new nuclear power station. These discussions are ongoing, and no conclusion has been reached about the strike price or contract length required for investment.

Wind Power

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the de-rating of wind turbines.

John Hayes: I have had no discussions with European counterparts regarding de-rating of wind turbines.

Wind Power

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with wind turbine manufacturers on the advertising of de-rated turbines.

John Hayes: My officials have met and discussed this issue with wind turbine manufacturers and RenewablesUK as part of the recent comprehensive review of the FITs scheme. As indicated in the Government response to Phase 2B of the review, published in July, DECC takes the issue of turbine de-rating seriously. It should be noted that only 0.009% of installations supported by FITs could potentially have been de-rated in this way.
	We have acted to address a similar issue of downsizing of hydro sites and are committed to finding a solution for wind. Following publication of the response we have already met with representatives from the sector to take this forward.

Wind Power

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the practice of de-rating.

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what safeguards are in place to prevent onshore wind farm operators from deliberately running large wind turbines at sub-optimal levels in order to qualify for the higher subsidy available to sub-500kW turbines; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: We are aware that a very small number of manufacturers have started to sell turbines which have been “de-rated” to allow them to benefit from higher tariffs. To date, only 32 turbines have been installed in the relevant band, representing just 0.009% of installations supported by FITs.
	My officials have met and discussed this issue with wind turbine manufacturers and RenewableUK as part of the recent comprehensive review of the FITs scheme. As indicated in the Government response to Phase 2B of the review, published in July, DECC takes the issue of turbine de-rating seriously. We have acted to address a similar issue for hydro sites and are committed to doing the same for wind. Following publication of the response we have already met with representatives from the sector to take this forward.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths there have been from carbon monoxide poisoning in domestic premises due to faulty biomass boilers in the latest year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Don Foster: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	The information requested is not held centrally.
	The best available information on carbon monoxide poisoning is set out in the annual report of the Cross Government Group on Gas Safety and Carbon Monoxide Awareness which is available online at:
	www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm

College of Policing

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility the College of Policing will have for police staff working for private sector companies providing services to police forces in England and Wales.

Damian Green: The College of Policing will have a remit to work with Police and Crime Commissioners and forces to improve standards across all areas of policing, including those functions which can be carried out by private sector companies.

Drugs: Crime

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2012, Official Report, column 179W, on drugs: crime, if she will take steps to universally define the term drug dealer in (a) her Department and (b) its associated public bodies; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has no plans to provide a universal definition for the term ‘drug dealer’. While there is no statutory definition there is a common understanding of what constitutes “dealing”, informed by the offences in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and associated legislation.

Drugs: Misuse

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to prevent the selling of legal high drugs (a) over the internet and (b) over the counter.

Jeremy Browne: The Government takes the issue of new psychoactive substances (so called 'legal highs') very seriously.
	In May 2012 the Government published a new psychoactive substances (NPS) action plan which sets out a number of actions to address the trade in these substances. The action plan is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/drugs/annual-review-drug-strategy-2010/drug-strategy2010-review-may2012?view=Binary
	A copy of which will be placed in the House Library.
	Action to restrict drug supply, including illegal NPS, is a priority for law enforcement and the Home Office is working closely with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Border Force and the police to develop new approaches to identify importers, distributors and sellers of NPS. This activity includes action to close websites advertising illegal NPS; the creation of a multi-agency working group to identify and tackle the trade in NPS by organised criminals; ongoing development of a national intelligence picture; and the publication of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) practice guidance on NPS for the police.

Police: Training

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided to police officers on how to deal with criminality online.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 29 November 2012
	As part of the National Cyber Security Programme, cyber awareness training for all police officers is being designed by the Police Central e-Crime Unit. A capability framework for regions and forces to assist in their development of their cyber response in line with the Strategic Policing Requirement is also being developed.

Prostitution

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions (a) officials and (b) Ministers of her Department met representatives of other Government Departments to determine policy on prostitution since May 2010.

Jeremy Browne: Home Office Ministers and officials have regular meetings with colleagues from other Departments as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	The Government is committed to tackling the harm and exploitation associated with prostitution. The cross-government Action Plan to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sets out our commitment to ensure that those involved in prostitution are protected from violence, free from exploitation and, where appropriate, given help to leave.

Rape: Crime Prevention

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department plans to spend on the rape prevention campaign between December 2012 and December 2013.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 30 November 2012
	The Home Office has allocated £1 million to fund the rape prevention campaign which will run from December 2012 to January 2013.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change was in the level of air passenger duty from (a) 1997 to 2010 and (b) 2010 to date.

Sajid Javid: Historic rates of air passenger duty can be found online here:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDuty Bulletins.aspx

Child Benefit

Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff, and at what cost, HM Revenue and Customs will require to implement the claw-back of child benefit from 7 January 2013.

David Gauke: Our latest view is that the number of staff required to implement the high income child benefit charge will vary over time. For 2012-13 HMRC's current estimate is for 475 full-time equivalent staff, costing around £11.7 million. From 2013-14 onwards HMRC's current estimate is for 450 full-time equivalent staff, costing around £11.3 million.
	The estimate of costs incurred to date is approximately half the initially expected cost of the first phase of the project.

Credit Unions: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Financial Services Authority has made of the number of credit unions in the North East in each year since 2007.

Greg Clark: The Government is supportive of the role that credit unions play in providing diversity within the financial sector. The Government do not hold information on individual credit unions.

Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of how much the provisions of the UK Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2012 will save highly indebted countries in coming years.

Greg Clark: The UK Government made permanent the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 on 25 May 2011.
	The impact assessment for the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act suggests direct benefits of between zero and £26 million a year to heavily indebted poor countries.

Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies on adopting the provisions of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The UK Government made permanent the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 on 25 May 2011.
	Jersey has recently adopted a similar legislation. The UK will continue to share its experience of addressing non-participation in debt relief with Britain's Crown Dependencies and Overseas territories.

Excise Duties: Aviation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has considered freezing the duty payable on aviation fuel;
	(2)  what representations he has received on duty on aviation fuel.

Sajid Javid: All aviation fuel duty has been frozen since March 2011. The duty payable on aviation fuel depends on the type of fuel and the purpose of use. No duty is payable on any fuel used for international flights. Aviation turbine fuel used in private pleasure flying in turbine powered aircraft is subject to duty at the same rate as road diesel at 57.95p per litre. Aviation gasoline used in piston powered aircraft is subject to duty at 37.70p per litre. Other uses of aviation fuel in the UK do not attract duty. The Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all taxes under review.
	Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of authorities as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the change was in the level of fuel duty from (a) 1997 to 2010 and (b) 2010 to date;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to reduce the effect on motorists of fluctuations in the price of oil.

Sajid Javid: Information on historic fuel duty rates by fuel type is published in table 8 of the UK Trade Info Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDuty bulletins.aspx
	The table shows that the main petrol duty rate rose by 16.91 pence per litre between 1997 and May 2010, and by 0.76 pence per litre between May 2010 and now.
	The Government has cut fuel duty, cancelled the previous Government's fuel duty escalator, ensured that fuel duty has remained frozen for 21 months and has introduced a fair fuel stabiliser. As a result, pump prices are 10p a litre lower than they would have been under the previous Government.
	The fair fuel stabiliser took effect from 21 March 2012. I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Miss Smith), on 21 March 2012, Official Report, column 57WS.

Financial Services: Disadvantaged

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been of the (a) Financial Inclusion Taskforce and (b) Financial Inclusion Fund in each year since 2005; and if he will provide a breakdown of spending in each case for each category of spending.

Sajid Javid: A Financial Inclusion Taskforce was established in 2005 to monitor and evaluate the Government's financial inclusion strategy. The taskforce was allocated £3 million from the Financial inclusion Fund for the period 2005-07, and £2 million for 2008-11.
	The. Financial Inclusion Fund was allocated £120 million for the period 2005-07. The Treasury Select Committee Report: ‘Financial inclusion: the roles of the Government and the FSA, and financial capability’ (First Report of the Session 2006-07) sets out how the fund was allocated in this period.
	It is available on the Parliament website:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmtreasy/53/53.pdf
	A further £130 million funding for the Financial Inclusion Fund was allocated for the period 2008-11. ‘Financial inclusion: an action plan for 2008-11’ sets out how the fund was allocated in this period. It is available on the HM Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/financial inclusion_actionplan061207.pdf
	The Financial Inclusion Fund closed on 31 March 2011.

Fossil Fuels: Prices

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low fossil fuel prices on (i) domestic demand, (ii) investment and (iii) aggregate demand in the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. In September 2010, the OBR published a working paper, ‘Assessment of the Effect of Oil Price Fluctuations on the Public Finances’. This analysis by the OBR suggests that a 20% increase in the price of oil reduces actual output by approximately 0.2% compared to a baseline scenario. In their March 2012 ‘Economic and fiscal outlook’, the OBR estimated that an immediate $50 shock to the oil price would lead to GDP growth in 2012-13 falling from their central forecast of 1.0% to 0.3%.

Minimum Wage

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many national minimum wage claims have been brought against employers (a) by employees, (b) by trade union and (c) following HM Revenue and Customs PAYE audits in the last 12 months.

David Gauke: HMRC categorises claims from workers as complaints and treats information from other sources, including trade unions and internal referrals from HMRC colleagues, such as those carrying out PAYE audits, as third-party information.
	HMRC will investigate all complaints it receives on payment of the national minimum wage and, in the period October 2011 to October 2012, 2,027 complaints from workers were received and referred to compliance teams for investigation.
	Information provided to HMRC from third parties is analysed using risk indicators and employers with the highest risk are referred for compliance action. In the period October 2011 to October 2012, 550 third-party referrals were received, of which 342 were taken forward for compliance action.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers he expects to be participating in the PAYE real time information pilot at the end of each month from November 2012 to the end of April 2013.

David Gauke: HMRC's strategy for the remaining months of the RTI pilot is to focus on bringing on the largest PAYE schemes (by number of employments). HMRC is also aiming to bring new PAYE schemes directly into RTI as they are set up.
	HMRC's current projections for PAYE schemes participating in the PAYE real time information pilot are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number  (Up to) 
			 November 2012 65,000 
			 December 2012 100,000 
			 January 2013 120,000 
			 February 2013 140,000 
			 March 2013 185,000 
		
	
	The pilot is due to end in March 2013.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hashes from the payment system have been (a) matched and (b) not matched to real time information (RTI) data from employers since the start of the RTI pilot.

David Gauke: Since the start of the RTI pilot HMRC have matched 6,441,719 hashes received in RTI submissions with hashes from the BACS payment system.
	HMRC do not hold data on hashes from the BACS payment system that are unmatched.

PAYE

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the funding allocated by his Department to the PAYE Real Time Information project in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

David Gauke: As part of HMRC's spending review 2010 funding settlement, the Department was allocated an additional £124 million to meet the costs of the PAYE Real Time Information project. The following table illustrates the allocation:
	
		
			 £ million (nominal) 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 RDEL 18 22 22 16 
			 Of which:     
			 Depreciation 0 5 5 6 
			      
			 CDEL 40 3 3 0 
		
	
	Following public consultation there have been changes made to the design of the RTI solution and plans for the pilot year have also changed. As a result the cost of RTI will be higher than the spending review 2010 allocation. HMRC are working to determine the scale of the increase and are looking at how these additional costs will be met.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average response time was for letters sent to HM Revenue and Customs by (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: HMRC does not hold average response times for letters sent by (a) hon. Members or (b) members of the public. This information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
	HMRC has a target to deal with 80% of ministerial correspondence within 15 working days of receipt. This target is also applicable to letters from members of the public. HMRC is meeting this target; current performance in October 2012 being 80.5%.

Succession

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total value of gifts made to the Government from the estate of deceased persons was in 2010-11;
	(2)  what the total value of payments made to the Government on a voluntary basis with no contingent financial benefit to the donor was in 2010-11.

Sajid Javid: A total of £1,083,537.55 was received by the Government as gifts to the nation in the financial year 2010-11. Of this at least £1,081,311.84 was received from the estates of deceased persons, and £54,634.36 was received as bequests for the reduction of the national debt.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the likely macroeconomic effects of investing revenues raised from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of homes occupied by people at risk of fuel poverty in terms of (a) job creation, (b) GDP and (c) other effects; whether he plans to meet representatives of the Energy Bill Revolution Coalition to discuss such proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to supporting people, especially in low income and vulnerable households, to heat their homes more affordably. The Government has a range of policies to address fuel poverty and help people with their bills, including Warm Front, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, Community Energy Saving Programme, warm home discount, winter fuel payments and cold weather payments. From next year, the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation will help improve homes' energy efficiency.
	Spending priorities are not, in general, determined by the way in which the money is raised as this could impart inflexibility, including limiting the amount of spend on a particular issue, with reduced value-for-money for taxpayers.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (b) Suffolk and (c) England and Wales were in receipt of (i) child tax credit and (ii) working tax credit in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in (A) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (B) Suffolk and (C) England and Wales on (1) child tax credit and (2) working tax credit in each such year.

David Gauke: This information is published every year in the HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics: Finalised Awards”. These publications can be accessed from:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/fin-main-stats.htm
	The number of families receiving each element broken down by region is presented in Table 3. Statistics for total spend are not published but can be calculated using the number of families and the average entitlement (also published in Table 3).
	For ease the data requested is reproduced as follows. Data for 2011-12 is not yet available (published in May 2013); therefore the data is presented for 2009-10 and 2010-11. Breakdowns are not available for Suffolk, so statistics for the “East” region are provided as an alternative (see Annex A for list of parliamentary constituencies in the East region).
	
		
			 Number of families receiving child tax credit (CTC). working tax credit (WTC), and both in each region 
			 Thousand 
			  2010-11 
			  CTC WTC CTC and WTC Total 
			 Bury St Edmunds 6.9 0.6 2.7 10.2 
			 East England(1) 345 36 156 537 
			 England and Wales 3,358 468 1,740 5,566 
			 (1) Data for Suffolk are not available. 
		
	
	
		
			 Thousand 
			  2009-10 
			  CTC WTC CTC and WTC Total 
			 Bury St Edmunds 6.9 0.5 2.5 10.0 
			 East England 351 32 149 531 
			 England and Wales 3,426 414 1,672 5,512 
		
	
	
		
			 Total entitlement for those receiving CTC, WTC, and both in each region 
			 £ million 
			  2010-11 
			  CTC WTC CTC and WTC Total 
			 Bury St Edmunds 15.1 1.5 21.2 37.8 
			 East England(1) 913 83 1,271 2,267 
			 England and Wales 9,742 1,122 14,456 25,320 
			 (1) Data for Suffolk are not available. 
		
	
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2009-10 
			  CTC WTC CTC and WTC Total 
			 Bury St Edmunds 14.5 1.2 20.0 35.8 
			 East England 890 72 1,193 2,154 
			 England and Wales 9,576 975 13,703 24,254

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what processes are in place to ensure that the Tax Credit Office applies the correct postage when sending letters to (a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) other European destinations.

David Gauke: The Tax Credit Office identify claimant addresses that are outside of GB and NI. Any correspondence for those addresses is delivered using a dedicated postal service for overseas mail and the postal contractor responsible for this service selects the correct postage rate for delivery.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the costs incurred by the Government through the failure to award the West Coast Mainline rail franchise; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Department for Transport is responsible for providing an estimate of the costs which it has incurred through the cancellation of the west coast main line rail franchise.
	The full costs of the cancellation of the Intercity west coast franchise will not be quantifiable until after the Department for Transport has received the final findings of the Brown Review, which are due at the end of this year.

CABINET OFFICE

Childbirth

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of sole registered births in each of the last five years;
	(2)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of children born outside of marriage in each of the last five years;
	(3)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of sole registered live births in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of births were sole registered births in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;
	(5)  how many and what proportion of children were born outside marriage in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;
	(6)  how many and what proportion of births were sole-registered live births in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;
	(7)  how many and what proportion of births outside marriage were joint registrations in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;
	(8)  how many and what proportion of birth registrations outside marriage were from parents living at the same address in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking:
	1. Which 10 (a) lower super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of sole registered births in each of the last five years
	2. Which 10 (a) lower super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of children born outside of marriage in each of the last five years
	3. Which 10 (a) lower super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of sole registered live births in each of the last five years
	4. How many and what proportion of births were sole registered births in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years
	5. How many and what proportion of children were born outside marriage in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years
	6. How many and what proportion of births were sole registered live births in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years
	7. How many and what proportion of births outside marriage were joint registrations in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years
	8. How many and what proportion of birth registrations outside marriage were from parents living at the same address in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years
	Table 1 provides the number and proportion of live births that were (a) registered outside marriage, (b) registered jointly outside marriage, (c) registered jointly outside marriage to parents at the same address, and (d) sole registered in England and Wales for census wards from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available).
	Table 2 provides the 10 census wards with the highest number and proportion of live births that were (a) registered outside marriage, (b) registered jointly outside marriage, (c) registered jointly outside marriage to parents at the same address, and (d) sole registered in England and Wales from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available).
	In line with the Office for National Statistics policy on protecting the confidentiality of birth statistics, figures of less than three births have been suppressed. Where the proportion of births by registration type exceeds a threshold of 90 per cent, cells have been grouped and the corresponding numbers have been suppressed.
	Figures for live and total births by lower super output area and middle super output area have not been provided to prevent possible disclosure, which could occur by comparing tables provided in this answer and live birth figures which are already available for census wards. Figures for total births by census ward have not been provided for the same reason.
	The policy on protecting the confidentiality of birth statistics is available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/best-practice/disclosure-control-policy-for-birth-and-death-statistics/index.html
	Live births in England and Wales by the mother's usual area of residence and marital status are published annually on the National Statistics website. The latest data were published in October 2012 and are available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/births-by-area-of-usual-residence-of-mother--england-and-wales/2011/index.html
	Due to the size of the tables, they will be stored in the House of Commons Library.

Divorce

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest level of divorce in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of married couples divorced in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent questions.
	ONS does not produce divorce statistics by area. This is because divorce data provided to ONS by the courts does not contain information on the area of residence of the parties. Information on the location of the court is available, but this is not a good indicator of where the parties lived either before or after separation, as the two parties may choose the court they wish to use and courts are not evenly spread around England and Wales.

Lone Parents

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of single-parent families in each of the last five years;
	(2)  which 10 (a) lower layer super output areas, (b) medium layer super output areas and (c) wards had the highest (i) number and (ii) proportion of lone-mother families in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of families with children were single-parent families in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of families were lone-mother families in each (a) lower layer super output area, (b) medium layer super output area and (c) ward in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your questions.
	The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey. However, due to small sample sizes at these small geographical levels, estimates of families from this source are not sufficiently robust for these areas. The smallest geography for which estimates are sufficiently robust is local authority or parliamentary constituency.
	Statistics about lone parents for super output areas and wards will be published on 30 January 2013 using data from the 2011 Census.

New Businesses: Suffolk

Therese Coffey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the Office for National Statistics to publish figures on the number of enterprise births in Suffolk Coastal constituency in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding when the Office for National Statistics will publish figures on the number of enterprise births in the Suffolk Coastal constituency in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.
	The Business Demography publication containing 2011 data will be published on 13th December 2012 and will be available via the following link. This will contain data at a district, county and unitary authority level within region and country. Data for 2011 at constituency level are available on this date on request. The Business Demography 2012 publication date has not yet been agreed.
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/index.html

Teenage Pregnancy

David Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many teenage pregnancies there have been in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Bedfordshire, (f) Hertfordshire and (g) England and Wales in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many teenage pregnancies there have been in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Bedfordshire, (f) Hertfordshire, (g) England and Wales in each of the last three years, by local authority area. (131193)
	This question has been answered using conceptions data to represent pregnancies. Conception statistics are estimated for women usually resident in England and Wales and are based on birth registrations and abortion records. The latest year for which figures on conceptions are available is 2010.
	Table 1 shows the number of conceptions to women aged under 18 for the local authorities of interest from 2008 to 2010.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of under 18 conceptions, 2008 to 2010 
			 Area of usual residence Under 18 conceptions 
			  2010 2009 2008 
			 Suffolk 344 373 407 
			 Babergh 27 29 36 
			 Forest Heath 19 20 19 
			 Ipswich 86 89 106 
			 Mid Suffolk 42 35 33 
			 St Edmundsbury 49 58 55 
			 Suffolk Coastal 37 48 47 
			 Waveney 84 94 111 
			     
			 Norfolk 487 532 500 
			 Breckland 75 80 73 
			 Broadland 45 46 47 
			 Great Yarmouth 92 122 69 
			 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 79 101 87 
			 North Norfolk 44 49 57 
			 Norwich 99 95 109 
			 South Norfolk 53 59 58 
			     
			 Cambridgeshire 264 305 265 
			 Cambridge 51 74 53 
			 East Cambridgeshire 24 25 25 
			 Fenland 66 59 65 
			 Huntingdonshire 75 87 73 
			 South Cambridgeshire 48 60 49 
			     
			 Essex 745 814 812 
			 Basildon 134 142 155 
			 Braintree 75 82 84 
			 Brentwood 16 31 21 
			 Castle Point 46 52 52 
			 Chelmsford 86 71 87 
			 Colchester 92 93 104 
			 Epping Forest 51 66 62 
			 Harlow 56 54 50 
			 Maldon 37 33 32 
			 Rochford 36 46 44 
			 Tendring 86 109 98 
			 Uttlesford 30 35 23 
			     
			 Bedford UA (1) 117 115 123 
			 Central Bedfordshire UA (2) 166 153 152 
			     
			 Hertfordshire 502 501 520 
			 Broxbourne 63 54 63 
			 Dacorum 67 64 67 
			 East Hertfordshire 54 54 52 
		
	
	
		
			 Hertsmere 33 35 39 
			 North Hertfordshire 45 56 58 
			 St Albans 52 38 51 
			 Stevenage 49 61 58 
			 Three Rivers 34 38 35 
			 Watford 39 38 42 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 66 63 55 
			 England and Wales 34,633 38,259 41,361 
			 (1 )Bedford UA comprises the former district of Bedford (abolished 2009). (2 )Central Bedfordshire UA comprises the former districts of mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire (abolished 2009). Note: Conceptions in England and Wales 2010 is available on the ONS website and provides numbers and rates of under 18 conceptions in England and Wales from 1998 to 2010: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2010/index.html

Teenage Pregnancy: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many girls under the age of 16 years (a) became pregnant and (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk county council area in each of the last three years by age.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many girls under the age of 16 years (a) became pregnant and (b) gave birth in (i) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (ii) Suffolk county council area in each of the last three years by age. (131194)
	This question has been answered using conceptions data to represent pregnancies. Conception statistics are estimated for women usually resident in England and Wales and are based on birth registrations and abortion records. The latest year for which figures on conceptions are available is 2010.
	Table 1 provides figures on under 16 conceptions for St Edmundsbury while Table 2 provides figures on under 16 conceptions for Suffolk.
	Data has been provided for the non-metropolitan district of St Edmundsbury rather than the parliamentary constituency of Bury St Edmunds. Figures cannot be provided for parliamentary constituencies because of the risk of disclosing information on conceptions due to small differences with local authority boundaries. The figures for St Edmundsbury are three year aggregates because ONS does not publish data by single year for individual local authorities to protect the confidentiality of individuals.
	
		
			 Table 1: Under 16 conceptions for St Edmundsbury, three year aggregates, 2008-10 
			 Area of usual residence Number of conceptions Conceptions leading to maternities 
			 St Edmundsbury 27 9 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Under 16 conceptions for Suffolk, 2008-10 
			  2010 2009 2008 
			  Number of conceptions Conceptions leading to maternities Number of conceptions Conceptions leading to maternities Number of conceptions Conceptions leading to maternities 
			 Suffolk 68 24 58 27 65 31 
		
	
	Conceptions in England and Wales 2010 is available on the ONS website and provides numbers and rates for under 16 conceptions in England and Wales:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2010/index.html

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality: Impact Assessments

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister over the proposal to abolish equality impact assessments.

Maria Miller: It has never been a legal requirement to produce an equality impact assessment (EIA). The equality duty requires public bodies to consider the likely effects of their policies and programmes on different people but there is no requirement to produce a document to do this, still less a long, complex EIA. I held discussions with the Prime Minister and relevant Cabinet colleagues about stopping the production of unnecessary EIAs, ahead of the Prime Minister’s announcement on 19 November.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 37WS, on Green Bus Fund, which operators have been issued funds; how much each such operator has been issued with; and how many vehicles were purchased.

Norman Baker: Currently, none of the additional £20 million Green Bus Fund grant has been paid. As such, additional details such as successful operators or the buses funded are not available. Bidding guidance for this new round of the Fund will be published on the Department's website shortly.

Bus Services

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2012, Official Report, column 892W, on bus services: EU law, if he will place in the Library submissions made to the consultation by (a) bus operators and (b) trade associations representing bus operators.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport undertook a consultation exercise on the application of EU Regulation 181/2011 between 18 July 2012 and 11 October 2012.
	A formal Government response will be published in January 2013, and at that time I will publish all of the consultation responses.

Bus Services

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton of 29 October 2012, Official Report , column 5W, on bus services, if he will place in the Library a copy of minutes of the Bus Service Operator's Grant Better Bus Area working groups sent to the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton.

Norman Baker: Yes.

Bus Services

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to encourage more competition for bus service operators; and what investment his Department has made to modernise bus services in the last 12 months.

Norman Baker: The Government accepted the findings of the recent Competition Commission inquiry into local bus markets and is implementing the Commission's remedies that are designed to open up local markets by reducing barriers to entry and expansion. This is part of a wider package of proposals to improve local bus services set out in "Green Light for Better Buses" published in March 2012.
	The Government invested £100 million in improving local bus services in 2012 through the Better Bus Area Fund and the third round of the Green Bus Fund. In the same period, we expect to fund of the order of £100 million of local authority major schemes targeted at improvements to bus services such as the Greater Bristol Bus Network and new cross-city services in Manchester. In addition there are 579 individual bus improvement measures in the 96 projects supported by the £600 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Bus Services: Tyne and Wear

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the application of quality contracts schemes under the Local Transport Act 2008 to the Tyne and Wear area; and what response he has made to any such representations.

Norman Baker: I have regular discussions with bus companies and local transport authorities, including those in Tyne and Wear, which may include the topic of bus quality contract schemes. My position on quality contract schemes is clear, local transport authorities have the flexibility to impose a regulated model for bus services through a quality contract scheme, if they decide that is the best way to deliver their public transport policies. Central Government has no role in these decisions, but I am following developments with interest.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will assess the potential effect on air quality of a third runway at Heathrow.

Simon Burns: The Government's position on a third runway at Heathrow remains as set out in our programme for government and therefore my Department has no plans to assess the potential effect on air quality of a third runway at the airport.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what (a) consultations and (b) studies were conducted before allocating £0.5 billion to the proposed western connection to Heathrow;
	(2)  whether there will be any public funding of the operating costs of the proposed western connection to Heathrow;
	(3)  if his Department will publish a detailed business case for the proposed western connection to Heathrow.

Simon Burns: The High Level Output Specification published in July 2012 sets out the Government's plans for investment in rail in the 2014-19 period. It includes funding for the development of a new western rail access to Heathrow airport, subject to business case and agreement of terms with the Heathrow aviation industry.
	A new western rail access to Heathrow was included in Network Rail's Great Western and London and South East Route Utilisation Strategies. Network Rail consulted publicly in the development of both documents. A new connection was subsequently included in Network Rail's Initial Industry Plan published in September 2011.
	The rail industry is currently developing plans for the delivery of a new western rail access. Options for ownership and operation of the new connection will be considered as the rail industry develops the proposal.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2012, Official Report, column 370W, on the High Speed 2 railway line, what proportion of the affected land in the Amersham-Chilterns Northern Edge section is valued at £103 per hectare per year; whether £103 per hectare per year is the lowest valuation of any land type; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Valuation of different land types is based on the values in the Department for Communities and Local Government document “Valuing the external benefits of undeveloped land” and is not unique to HS2.
	For the purposes of the HS2 economic landscape assessment we valued land in perpetuity rather than per year, and the lowest valued category of land was priced at £9,820 per hectare.
	The land between Amersham and the Chilterns northern edge was given the highest valuation per hectare along the entire HS2 route, even though 78% of the land in the section falls into the “agriculture intensive or extensive” category which is valued at £9,820 per hectare. This is because of the high value placed upon the remaining 22% of land.
	It is also important to bear in mind that the monetary value attributed to land is not the only factor in decision making. For example, landscape specialists will be making visual assessments of the quality of landscape as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment and this information will be important to the route design process.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has assessed the economic affect of High Speed Rail 2 on the Chilterns area of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Appraisal of Sustainability (AOS) for HS2 contained a strategic assessment of the economic effects of HS2. The AOS is available at
	www.dft.gov.uk/aos
	and Appendix 3, the Socio-Economic report includes the details of the economic assessment.
	As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process, a more detailed economic assessment will be carried out and we expect to consult on the resulting draft Environmental Statement in spring 2013.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of High Speed Rail 2 on (a) the Misbourne, Colne and Chess rivers, (b) the chalk aquifer and (c) other bodies of water; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The effects on surface and underground water are an important consideration for HS2 Ltd. Changes made to the route as a result of the consultation in 2011 meant that many impacts were minimised, such as the realigned deep tunnel under the Chilterns avoiding impacting on the River Misbourne and ensuring the Chilterns aquifer was avoided. Where HS2 crosses water bodies, rivers and flood plains, HS2 Ltd will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and local people to help make sure that they use the most suitable methods to minimise impacts.
	Currently the design process is being informed, in part, through concerns from residents about local rivers during engagement at community forums and through issues identified as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the processes for the development of High Speed 2 comply with the (a) Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive, (b) Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and (c) Environmental Impact Assessment Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: My Department understands the requirements of these directives and regulations and has carefully considered them in connection with HS2. The Government's HS2 proposals do not constitute a plan or programme within the meaning of the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) directive and the 2004 regulations, and therefore, there was not a requirement to undertake a SEA. However, my Department decided that it would be appropriate and beneficial to apply SEA principles to the Appraisal of Sustainability published in 2011. We will take all necessary steps to meet the objectives of the environmental impact assessment directive including production of an Environmental Statement which will accompany the Hybrid Bill to inform Parliament's decisions on HS2, and public consultation.

Public Transport

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to (a) incentivise or (b) disincentivise transport authorities from pursuing quality contract schemes.

Norman Baker: I have no plans to (a) incentivise or (b) disincentivise transport authorities from pursuing quality contract schemes. The decision to pursue a Quality Contract Scheme is for the Local Transport Authority.

Public Transport: Disability

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is developing a strategy for improving access to transport for people with (a) autism, (b) sight loss and (c) impaired mobility.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport will be publishing an Accessibility Action Plan shortly. The plan will build on the success achieved in improving accessibility on public transport during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the heart of the plan is the importance of improving door to door journeys. It has been developed in partnership with disabled people and their organisations to ensure the most effective steps are being taken.

Railways: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees from other Government Departments and other divisions within his Department have been seconded or permanently transferred to work on rail franchising since September 2012.

Simon Burns: Since September 2012, no employees from other Government Departments have been seconded to the Department for Transport to work on rail franchising.
	As of 13 November 2012, 11 individuals within the Department who do not normally work in rail franchising have been transferred to rail franchising roles on a temporary basis to support the Department's response to the cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition.

Roads: North West

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the North West Highways Management Contract for Area 10 in respect of the fuel spillage on the M60 near Trafford Centre on 14 November 2012.

Stephen Hammond: The Highways Agency's records confirm that the diesel spillage incident occurred on 15 November 2012, at approximately 05:49, on the M60 Motorway between Junctions 8 and 6. Approximately 200 metres of carriageway was damaged and required resurfacing.
	The Asset Support Contractor consulted the Highways Agency. Since the resurfacing work required the full closure of a section of the anti-clockwise carriageway of the motorway, the decision was taken to defer resurfacing until later that evening to minimise disruption to motorists.
	As with all responses to incidents, the Asset Support Contractor's performance in responding to this incident will be assessed and discussed with them.

Thameslink Railway Line

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the reasons are for the time taken in reaching financial close for the Thameslink rolling stock contract;
	(2)  for what reasons his Department's forecast dates for financial close for the Thameslink rolling stock contract have changed.

Simon Burns: We remain confident of reaching financial close with Siemens early in the new year. The Thameslink rolling stock is a very significant investment. Given the size of the transaction detailed discussions to conclude the commercial documentation have taken place accordingly.

Transport: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of average spending per head of population on transport in (a) the city of Liverpool and (b) Merseyside; and what the (i) regional and (ii) national average was of such spending.

Norman Baker: holding answer 30 November 2012
	The most recent data available for total public expenditure on transport is given in HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses for 2011/12. Identifiable expenditure on transport per head in 2011/12 was £279 for the North West, £292 for England and £315 for the whole of the UK. Equivalent data is not available below regional level.

Transport: Snow and Ice

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have had on the implementation of flexible staff working levels during times when poor weather or increased traffic levels is forecast.

Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport has not held discussions with his officials regarding implementation of flexible working during times when poor weather or increased traffic levels is forecast.
	However, officials here have recently concluded Union negotiation on refreshed employee arrangements relating to the management of major disruption during periods of extreme weather, other natural events and industrial action affecting travel systems. The major disruption to travel policy was developed in parallel with departmental planning for the possible impact of the Olympics on the Department's business.
	My Department is committed to flexible working. We encourage our employees to consider alternative working patterns as we recognise both the individual and business benefits of this in terms, of individual job satisfaction and personal productivity, and better usage of a decreasing Civil Service estate in Central London.

Weather: Information Services

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have had on the implementation of an online and VHF automated weather service.

Norman Baker: There have been no discussions specifically on the implementation of online and VHF automated weather services either with the Secretary of State for Transport or other Ministers within the Department or with Department for Transport officials.
	Network Rail provides a dedicated online service for the rail industry covering information and forecasts on weather and seasonal conditions as they affect railway operations.
	In addition, the Highways Agency launched in 2012 its new Highways Agency Weather Information Service. This service is to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of highways operational management on the strategic road network, in particular the effectiveness of winter maintenance services.
	For mariners, and in support of the obligations of SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 5, maritime officials are responsible for providing meteorological services and warnings to mariners around the UK coast, and do this by obtaining forecasts and warnings from the Met Office and then transmitting them by Satellite, MF and VHF. This is a semi-automated process to ensure minimum mutual interference with adjacent coastal aerials. Discussions are underway at official level about the potential to automate some of these services to mariners under the Future Coastguard programme. Online maritime meteorological services are provided by the Met Office and some private service providers.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to provide detailed costings on the failures in the award of the West Coast Mainline rail franchise; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: As the Department reaches a conclusion regarding potential compensation payments or other liabilities and the amounts have been agreed by the National Audit Office, Parliament will be provided with that information.
	The full costs of the cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise will not be quantifiable until after the Department has received the final findings of the Brown Review, which are due at the end of this year.
	All exceptional costs arising from the InterCity West Coast franchise competition cancellation in this financial year will be disclosed as an exceptional item in the Department's Annual Accounts and governance statement, which will be laid in the House next summer.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has made any financial provision in future budgets for (a) costs incurred by Directly Operated Railways relating to its preparatory work on the West Coast Mainline franchise, (b) reimbursing bid costs for (i) First Group, (ii) Abelio, (iii) Keolis/SNCF and (iv) Virgin Rail, (c) external (A) legal and (B) financial consultancy to advise and assess the Department's awarding of rail franchises and (d) compensation to FirstGroup for the effect of his Department's actions on the company share price.

Simon Burns: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) No specific provision made for Directly Operated Railways or other companies relating to the project, however costs will be met from existing departmental resources.
	(b) An estimate of £40 million has been made in the budget for reimbursing bid costs relating to the West Coast franchise. A breakdown of the budget between bidders has not been made.
	(c) Future costs estimates will depend on the outcome of the Brown and Laidlaw Reviews.
	(d) A claim has not been received from First Group.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the cost of attempting to award the West Coast Mainline rail franchise and the cancellation of the franchise award including staffing and consultancy costs between January 2011 to date.

Simon Burns: The costs of attempting to award the West Coast Mainline rail franchise between January 2011 and 31 October 2012 are estimated to be £1.835 million. The costs of the cancellation of the franchise award to 31 October 2012 are estimated to be £1.722 million. There is separately an amount of £40 million allocated to reimburse bidders for bid costs.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment (a) Ministers and (b) the Laidlaw inquiry have made of the analysis in the letter sent by his Department's head of major projects to bidders for the West Coast Mainline franchise competition.

Simon Burns: The content of these letters reflects the analysis of the Secretary of State for Transport that led him to conclude on 2 October that the Intercity West Coast franchise competition should be cancelled. Following their despatch, the letters were made available to aid Mr Sam Laidlaw's consideration. However, Mr Laidlaw's terms of reference confined him to a consideration of matters occurring up to 15 August 2012.

DEFENCE

Defence Equipment and Support

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timetable is for the (a) decision on, (b) legislative proposals for and (c) contract award relating to any change in status of Defence Equipment and Support; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The final decision on any change of status and contract award will be determined following consideration of a business case by the Investment Approvals Committee and Ministers. We are currently considering what, if any, legislative requirements may arise from proposals for reforming Defence Equipment and Support.

Defence Equipment and Support

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result is of his Department's value-for-money assessment of the possible establishment of Defence Equipment and Support as a government-owned, contract-operated entity; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The value for money analysis is in the final stages of completion. A decision will be made in due course.

Libya

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 809W, on Libya: military intervention, if he will place in the Library the aircraft condition survey conducted on the Apache helicopters which flew from HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 30 October 2012
	A review of the information requested is being conducted with regard to its suitability for release. I will write to my hon. Friend concerning the information requested once the assessment is complete.
	Substantive answer from Philip Dunne to Tobias Ellwood:
	Further to my response of 31 October 2012 (Official Report, column 293W) I am writing to inform you that I have received copies of the Aircraft Condition Survey reports on Apache aircraft ZJ207, ZJ188, ZJ179 ZJ218 and XJ233.
	These reports, which relate to the Apache helicopters which flew from HMS Ocean during Operation Ellamy, contain details which may reveal effectiveness of operational equipment used by our Armed Forces and therefore I have decided not to release. The reports identify higher than normal levels of corrosion due to the maritime environment the aircraft had been flown in, but in all cases were within normal tolerance levels and the aircraft remained fully airworthy.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Lynx Helicopters

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air-to-ground weapon systems will be used by the Royal Navy's version of the AW159 Lynx Wildcat.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 29 November 2012
	The Royal Navy variant of the Lynx Wildcat helicopter will be equipped with the General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62 mm, Heavy Machine Gun 12.7 mm and the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon as air-to-surface weapons. It will also be equipped with the Sting Ray Torpedo and Mk 11 depth charge for use in an anti-submarine role.

Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost to his Department was of military aviation collaboration projects in the EU in the last year;
	(2)  what the cost to his Department was of military aviation collaboration projects with non-EU countries, excluding the US, in the last year;
	(3)  what the cost to his Department was of military aviation collaboration projects with the US in the last year.

Philip Dunne: Ministry of Defence expenditure on military aviation collaboration projects for the financial year 2011-12 is shown in the following table. The expenditure includes airframes, engines and other systems intrinsic to the aircraft. It does not include airborne weapons fitted to aircraft.
	
		
			 Aviation collaboration projects Expenditure (£ million) 
			 EU 2,291.3 
			 Non-EU 19 
			 US 377 
		
	
	One project includes a collaboration of EU, non-EU countries and the US. This explains the cost in the ‘non-EU’ category above.

Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that collaborative defence projects in which the UK participates work on competitiveness principles without discrimination as to the countries involved.

Philip Dunne: The National Security Through Technology White Paper (CM 8277), published in February 2012, stated that when the UK participates in a multinational programme our preference for doing so will be on a bilateral basis, as this offers the best balance of advantages and disadvantages. In these cases, we will adopt a “best athlete” approach, to ensure principles of competitiveness are pursued.
	Wherever possible, we will also ensure that the principles of open competition are followed in multinational programmes in which the UK participates.

Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that future collaborative defence projects are, wherever possible, bilateral collaborations to ensure efficiencies.

Philip Dunne: As stated in the National Security Through Technology White Paper (CM 8277), our preference is to work on a bilateral basis, particularly with the US and France, to develop technology, equipment, and support arrangements that meet our mutual defence and security needs.

Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on extending collaborative defence projects to include collaboration on (a) mid-life up-dates of the equipment produced through the project, (b) repairs and maintenance of such equipment and (c) training on such equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: In order to improve the management of projects and programmes, and achieve best value for money for the UK, the Ministry of Defence adopts a through-life management approach to acquisition, including when we collaborate with our international partners.
	Each programme is assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they are managed in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Reviews

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reviews are taking place in his Department.

Mark Francois: holding answer 30 November 2012
	Following the strategic defence and security review, we are delivering one of the most ambitious transformation programmes ever undertaken, including implementing the defence reform review. Progress is reported annually to Parliament.
	Transforming Defence is driving wide-ranging change to the organisation and the way we work at all levels across almost all of Defence. Much of this, in accordance with the spirit of Lord Levene's recommendations, is being taken forward locally by the relevant delegated authority.
	Work in progress includes:
	establishing the way forward for Defence equipment and support;
	transforming how defence infrastructure will be delivered in future;
	reviewing Army basing developing our reserve forces; and
	modernising the offer we make to our people, under the new employment model for service personnel, and as part of civil service reform.

Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications the Minister of State for the Armed Forces has had with the Scottish Minister for Transport and Veterans since 4 September 2012.

Andrew Robathan: I have received one letter since 4 September 2012.

Type 26 Frigates

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on export negotiations in respect of the Type 26 Frigate.

Philip Dunne: Bilateral conversations are ongoing with a number of potential international partners to explore opportunities for co-operation, with respect to the Type 26 Global Combat Ship itself and systems destined to be fitted to it.
	It is not appropriate to comment until we are in a position to make a firm announcement.

Type 26 Frigates

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the (a) total cost and (b) unit cost of the new Type 26 Global Combat Ships to be purchased by his Department.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 30 November 2012
	The Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is in it’s assessment phase. The total programme and unit costs will be determined at the main investment decision, which is expected in the middle of the decade. Given the status of the project, I am withholding the information on costs as its disclosure would risk prejudicing the Ministry of Defence's commercial position.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he made of his Department's Maritime Unmanned Aerial Systems Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 29 November 2012
	The Ministry of Defence is in the process of developing a strategy paper considering maritime Unmanned Air Systems; it is expected that this will be completed in the first quarter of 2013. Elements of the paper are likely to be classified.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps the Reaper squadron has taken to tackle illegal piracy and fishing in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Andrew Robathan: UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System is certified for use only in support of ground forces in Afghanistan. For further details I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne), during the Westminster Hall debate on 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 203WH.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 130504 from the hon. Member for Bournemouth East, tabled on 22 November 2012 for answer on 25 November 2012.

Philip Dunne: PQ 130504 was tabled on 23 November 2012 for answer on 28 November 2012. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 457W.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding her Department provided to the Arts Council in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12; and how much such funding she plans to provide in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Edward Vaizey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Camberwell and Peckham (Ms Harman) on 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 815W.

Arts: Ethnic Groups

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of whether the Creative Industries Council might play a role in improving ethnic diversity in the media and creative industries as a means of fulfilling its remit to encourage growth and competitiveness in those industries.

Edward Vaizey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 November 2012, Official Report, column 535W.

Broadband

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the role of Ofcom in the negotiation of the 4G network rollout; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom has no role in the negotiation of 4G network rollout, although was involved in the discussions between Government and other interested parties about speeding up the process of making that spectrum available. 4G network roll-out is a commercial matter within the scope of the requirements appropriate to the relevant licence.

Domestic Visits

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) libraries, (b) galleries and (c) museums she has visited in her official capacity.

Edward Vaizey: Since her appointment, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), has visited a number of different venues and institutions related to her official duties. She looks forward to further visits in the future.

Football: Tickets

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what advice the Premier League has sought from her Department on the resale of tickets to Premier League football matches through secondary ticketing websites;
	(2)  what discussions she has had on ensuring that the resale of tickets to Premier League football matches through secondary ticketing websites does not allow individuals banned from football grounds to acquire match tickets;
	(3)  what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department have had with secondary ticketing organisations regarding the resale of tickets to Premier League football matches.

Hugh Robertson: None. For reasons related purely to public order, the resale of tickets for football matches is illegal under section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, unless the resale is authorised by the organiser of the match.

Local Government

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings Ministers in her Department have had with leaders of local authorities since May 2010.

Hugh Robertson: The Department publishes details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations on its transparency website, at the following link:
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/other/meetings/

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax Benefits

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what analysis he undertook of the potential effect on incentives to work of his proposed localisation of council tax support.

Brandon Lewis: The design of and levels of council tax support are matters for each individual local authority. To support local authorities in designing schemes which provide positive work incentives, the Department has published guidance, which it will shortly be re-issuing, setting out the key considerations relating to work incentives which local authorities will want to take into account in designing their schemes.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/localising-support-for-council-tax-taking-work-incentives-into-account-guidance
	The Department has also set out, in the regulations prescribing the Default Scheme, an approach to taking into account universal credit which helps to support work incentives. The Explanatory Note for these provisions explains that this approach could help limit combined marginal deduction rates to 81% taking into account a person's tax and national insurance contributions.
	The draft Default Scheme regulations are available here:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2886/contents/made
	The explanatory note on the universal credit provisions is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/14822/expan_note_univ_credit_2245014.pdf

Enterprise Zones: Corby

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to reopen applications for enterprise zone status in order that Corby can apply to become an enterprise zone.

Mark Prisk: We have no current plans to invite bids to create additional Enterprise Zones. The Government is committed to supporting the current 24 Enterprise Zones in delivering their ambitions.
	Many of the key benefits are now available for local areas to use without any special designation from Government. For example, local authorities can bring speed, certainty and reduced costs to the planning process through the use of Local Development Orders, they can offer business rate discounts according to local circumstances. And from April 2013, they will also benefit from the local retention of Business Rates too—a strong incentive to go for growth.

Housing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much demand he estimates there will be for additional housing by 2030 by type of demand.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not estimate demand for housing. However, the Department publishes household projections, which are a trend-based view of the number of households that would form given projected population and previous demographic trends.
	The most recent household projections are 2008-based. The projected household numbers are disaggregated by household type and are published at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/household-projections

Housing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of additional housing need he estimates will result from family breakdown, in the next 20 years.

Mark Prisk: The Department does not have this information.

Housing and Council Tax Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of households who will be affected by both the housing benefit under-occupation penalty and a restriction of council tax benefit (a) nationally and (b) in each English region.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government published an updated impact assessment in June 2012, setting out its assessment of the potential impacts of the localisation of support for council tax in England. The updated impact assessment can be found on the Government website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8465/2158675.pdf
	Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit we have inherited from the last Administration, under which council tax benefit and housing benefit expenditure doubled.
	The localisation of council tax support will also give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people back into work.

Non-domestic Rates

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2012, Official Report, column 571W, on non-domestic rates, how many business rate revaluations took place in each of the last five years; what the total rateable value was in each such year; what the average percentage increase was in rateable value for those properties that were re-rated in each such year; and what the reasons were for rateable value reassessments in addition to a redevelopment of the site.

Brandon Lewis: The Valuation Office Agency undertakes a revaluation of all non-domestic property periodically in accordance with the legislation. The last revaluation took effect from the 1 April 2010.
	During the period between revaluations the Valuation Office Agency is under statutory obligation to maintain the rating lists making amendments to the list on a frequent basis. This could be due to a number of reasons such as new properties, properties being demolished, and changes in properties including extensions and alterations. Changes are also made following successful appeals.
	Official Statistics on total rateable value are only available from 2009-10 onwards. The total rateable value for each local rating lists as at 31 March for each of the last three financial years is as follows:
	
		
			 Rateable value (£ million) 
			 Financial year 2005 2010 
			 2009-10 48,992 n/a 
			 2010-11 48,543 59,449 
			 2011-12 48,374 59,708 
		
	
	The agency typically makes between 175,000 and 275,000 alterations to the England and Wales 2010 local rating lists annually. A summary of list changes (new, amended and deleted entries) is published on their website in the following location:
	2011-12 financial year:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/statisticalReleases/120524_LocalRatingListChanges.html
	2010-11 financial year:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/statisticalReleases/localRatingListSummary.html
	2005-06 to 2009-10 financial years:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110320170052/http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/changes-to-rating-list.html

Planning Permission: Appeals

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of planning appeals relating to major applications made to the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years were (a) heard and (b) decided within 13 weeks.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 28 November 2012
	Local planning authorities should decide planning applications within the statutory time limits (13 weeks for major applications, eight weeks for other applications); there is a right of appeal for non-determination if a decision is not made in that period.
	78% of planning applications were determined within statutory time limits in 2011-12. However, over a fifth of applications for major development took more than half a year to determine, and 9% took more than a year; any subsequent appeal against a refusal of permission would add further time. Consequently, in the recent consultation paper, “Planning performance and the planning guarantee”, we proposed that very poor performance be classified as councils failing to determine 30% or fewer of major applications within the statutory period.
	There is no 13 week timetable for appeals: appeals are typically more complex and controversial than the generality of planning applications.
	However, our Planning Guarantee states that no application should spend more than 26 weeks either with the local authority or by the Planning Inspectorate; this is to ensure that the consideration of applications does not take more than one year from start to finish.
	In 2011-12, the Planning Inspectorate decided 97% of appeals within its target of 26 weeks. This is considerably better performance than was under the last Administration.
	The reasons for the small number of appeals taking longer than 26 weeks are outlined in the “Planning Guarantee Monitoring Report” published by my Department on 28 September; the most common reason was postponement due to one of the interested parties (i.e. the applicant or the local authority) being unavailable.

Planning Permission: Mole Valley

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to report on planning inquiry number 2172145 concerning The Glade in Mole Valley District local authority.

Nicholas Boles: The three planning appeals and eight enforcement appeals heard at the inquiry to which the hon. Member refers are still under consideration and a decision letter will be issued as soon as possible.

Private Rented Housing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the powers available to local authorities to regulate the length of time letting agents are allowed to retain letting signs outside properties once the property is off the market.

Nicholas Boles: Estate agents have deemed consent under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 to display sale or letting boards on relevant premises. It is a condition of the consent that the advertisement must be removed within 14 days after the completion of a sale or the grant of a tenancy. If the advertisement is not removed within 14 days, it is being displayed without consent, which is an offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 in the magistrates court.
	If there is a proliferation of estate agents' boards in a particular area the local planning authority may apply to the Secretary of State for a direction to restrict the deemed consent and require that all boards must have express consent. As well as dealing with proliferation that may have an adverse effect on the amenity of an area, the requirement for express consent allows the local planning authority to monitor boards more closely and enforce the conditions, including the requirement to remove the board once the need for it has passed.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider further ways of safeguarding (a) landscape character and (b) visual amenity in the planning process for onshore wind farm development.

Nicholas Boles: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA13.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships have been created in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England for people aged (i) 16 to 24, (ii) 25 to 49 and (iii) 50 years in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The following table shows the number of Apprenticeship programme starts in (a) Liverpool Walton parliamentary constituency, (b) Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral local education authorities, and (c) England by age. Final data are shown for the 2006/07 to 2010/11 academic years and provisional data are shown for the 2011/12 academic year.
	We publish apprenticeship starts at region, local education authority and parliamentary constituency levels of geography, therefore data for Merseyside are not presented.
	Provisional data for the 2011/12 academic year provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. They should not be directly compared with final year data from previous years. Figures for 2011/12 will be finalised in January 2013.
	
		
			 Apprenticeship programme starts by geography and age, 2006/07 to 2011/12 (provisional) 
			   Final Provisional 
			 Geography Age 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 Liverpool Walton constituency 16 to 24 630 720 550 680 890 870 
			  25 to 49 — 40 100 200 580 670 
			  50+ — — 10 20 80 160 
			  All age 630 760 660 900 1,550 1,700 
			         
			 Knowsley local education authority 16 to 24 830 910 950 1,200 1,600 1,500 
			  25 to 49 — 80 160 220 840 1,150 
			  50+ — — 20 20 140 220 
			  All age 830 990 1,130 1,430 2,580 2,860 
			         
			 Liverpool local education authority 16 to 24 2,410 2,480 2,250 2,730 3,630 3,710 
		
	
	
		
			  25 to 49 — 140 440 670 2,450 2,880 
			  50+ — 20 50 80 380 550 
			  All age 2,410 2,640 2,740 3,470 6,470 7,140 
			         
			 Sefton local education authority 16 to 24 1,440 1,370 1,160 1,560 1,830 1,800 
			  25 to 49 — 100 280 360 1,270 1,580 
			  50+ — 10 40 40 280 370 
			  All age 1,440 1,470 1,480 1,970 3,370 3,750 
			         
			 St Helens local education authority 16 to 24 760 810 710 1,050 1,260 1,320 
			  25 to 49 — 50 150 190 690 1,210 
			  50+ — — 10 20 130 240 
			  All age 760 860 870 1,260 2,070 2,760 
			         
			 Wirral local education authority 16 to 24 1,620 1,710 1,380 1,870 2,500 2,560 
			  25 to 49 — 210 380 300 1,360 1,750 
			  50+ — 30 50 50 280 380 
			  All age 1,620 1,950 1,810 2,210 4,140 4,680 
			         
			 England 16 to 24 184,170 197,610 184,080 230,540 275,130 282,680 
			  25 to 49 250 24,550 50,490 44,280 152,600 186,660 
			  50+ 10 2,610 5,380 4,860 29,480 33,210 
			  All age 184,400 224,800 239,900 279,700 457,200 502,500 
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for England totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. “—” indicates a base value of less than five. 3. Age is based on age at the start of the programme. A small number of learners aged under 16 are included in the 16 to 24 age category. 4. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 5. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. 6. Provisional data for 2011/12 should not be directly compared with data for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by Geography is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 11 October 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/

Boilers

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the proportion of (a) oil fired, (b) gas fired and (c) biomass boilers that were manufactured (i) inside and (ii) outside the UK in the latest year for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold this information.

Copyright

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely cost of implementing the recommendations of the Hooper report on copyright works published in July 2012.

Jo Swinson: As Richard Hooper notes in his report, the recommendations he makes are intended for industry to take forward. The Government has made no analysis of the likely cost of implementing these recommendations.

Export Controls

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the introduction of Council Regulation (EU) 388/2012, on dual-use items, if he will make an assessment of whether the Export Control Organisation is meeting its performance targets; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Council Regulation (EU) 388/2012 amended Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) 428/2009 which is the list of dual-use items subject to export control from the EU. This was a technical amendment which did not change the overall scope of the EU dual-use controls and has had no impact on the performance of the Export Control Organisation (ECO) against its Government targets.
	The ECO's primary target is to finalise 70% of Standard Individual Export Licence applications within 20 working days. As at 12 November 2012, the ECO's performance for 2012 was 71% and so it is currently meeting the target. This is a significant improvement on 2011 and 2010 where the corresponding figures were 65% and 63% respectively.

Manufacturing Industries

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies have been awarded funds as part of his Department's Sustainable Manufacturing for the Processing Industry initiative for (a) research and development projects and (b) feasibility projects in the latest period for which figures are available; what the value was of each such award; how many such companies have received the full amount awarded; how many such companies have completed the work; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the initiative on (i) economic performance, (i) innovation in manufacturing and (iii) the environment.

David Willetts: holding answer 30 November 2012
	The Sustainable Manufacturing for the Process Industry (SMPI) competition was delivered by the Technology Strategy Board as part of its collaborative R&D programme. The Technology Strategy Board is a BIS sponsored body and is the Government's prime channel for supporting business-led technology innovation.
	Under its SMPI competition the Technology Strategy Board has offered grants to seven companies in support of feasibility projects and is in the process of offering grants to 17 companies in support of R&D projects. The value of grant awards ranged from £36,000 to £75,000 for feasibility projects and will range from £67,000 to £604,000 for R&D projects.
	The Technology Strategy Board expects all companies to receive the full amount awarded overtime. However, the projects have start dates ranging from November 2012 to January 2013 and so I am not able at this time to comment on the project work or assess the effectiveness of the initiative on economic performance, innovation in manufacturing or the environment.

New Businesses: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new businesses were created in Worcestershire in the last 12 months; and what plans his Department has to help businesses in Worcestershire export more goods and services to fast growing economies.

Michael Fallon: According to Worcestershire county council there were 2,175 business start ups in 2010. The figures for 2011 are due for release on 13 December 2012.
	Worcestershire companies were invited to the events during the recent Export Week which included an Explore Export Event attended by over 60 commercial officers from embassies and consulates around the world, including South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil, India, Thailand and Russia. UK Trade and Investment and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce are working with Worcester Local Enterprise Partnership on a major export event on 5 March 2013. Plans are being developed in the west midlands for events and trade missions in 2013/14 including visits to Russia, China and Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand and many other export markets. These opportunities will be promoted widely to companies in Worcestershire along with other regionally and nationally organised events and trade missions such as the Asia Task Force Events planned for March 2013 with the aim of getting more companies to trade internationally especially to the faster growing economies.

Royal Mail: Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for which trades union Royal Mail allowed staff (a) time to work on trade union duties and (b) facility time in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how many full-time equivalent staff were allowed that time in each such year, by trade union; and how much Royal Mail paid to trades union in each such year.

Michael Fallon: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail.
	I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Science: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on implementation of his Department's Strategy for Life Sciences published on 5 December 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Further to my reply on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 702W, details of progress to date in implementing the strategy were sent to stakeholders in a letter dated 20 August 2012. The letter was published on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/innovation/docs/l/12-1123-life-sciences-strategy-update-august-2012.pdf
	A ‘One Year On' report updating on progress in implementing the Strategy for UK Life Sciences will be published shortly.

Students: Loans

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether a marketing budget will be made available to publicise the introduction of 24+ advanced learner loans.

Matthew Hancock: In preparation for the introduction of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans, the Department has been developing a range of communication materials to inform learners about the introduction of loans. The messages have been developed with feedback from learners.
	In conjunction with learner-facing materials, the Skills Funding Agency, the Student Loans Company and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service have produced a range of communication materials for colleges and training organisations. There were a series of successful events in July for colleges and training organisations and a further series of events are currently taking place around the country.
	We are continuing to track awareness and understanding of providers, learners and employers to inform our future communication activities. We are also looking at further marketing activities that would be appropriate to support the introduction of loans. The level of marketing activity needs to be proportionate to the number of learners affected by the introduction of loans and the activity needs to be targeted effectively.

Students: Loans

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the contribution of the then Minister of State for Further Education and Skills, of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 260WH, whether an online application system will be in operation for the 24+ advanced learner loans first year of operation; and from when that system will be available.

Matthew Hancock: An online application system will be available from the beginning of April 2013, for those wishing to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan for courses starting from 1 August 2013.
	A paper based application form will also be available for those learners who wish to apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan, but are unable to do so online.

Teesside University

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK students studying at Teesside university have yet to receive a student finance payment for this financial year.

David Willetts: Student finance is paid to students by academic years (AY) not financial years (FY). The following table provides a breakdown of payments for AY 2012/13 on or before the 28 November made by Student Finance England to Teesside university students domiciled in England and entitled to maintenance support. (Figures for payments to UK-wide students are not easily available).
	
		
			 Description Applications to Teesside university for AY 2012/13 
			 Applications prepared for payment with maintenance support entitlement: 7,700 
			 Of which:  
			 Attendance confirmed and first payment made 7,290 
			 Of which:  
			 First payment made to those studying away from the institution (medical course, placement etc.) 70 
			 Of which:  
			 Attendance confirmed and first payment will be made at term start date or is currently in the banking system 50 
			 Of which:  
			 Awaiting confirmation of attendance from the institution 280 
			 Of which:  
			 Attendance confirmed but first payment withheld (1)10 
			 (1) Payments are withheld in exceptional cases for example where the bank details provided by the applicant have been found to be invalid or where the NINO has not yet been validated.

Teesside University

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students whose home address is in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency and are registered for study at Teesside university had outstanding student finance applications on (a) 24 September 2012, (b) 8 October 2012, (c) 22 October 2012, (d) 5 November 2012 and (e) 19 November 2012.

David Willetts: Table 1 as follows sets out the total number of Teesside university student finance applications from Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland students submitted to Student Finance England on the specified dates, along with those not yet processed. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the outstanding applications.
	For students that apply near the start of term, or for those who have not yet supplied the required evidence of household income, SLC will do everything it can to ensure they get at least the basic non means-tested maintenance loan and tuition fee loan so that the student can start their course, and will pay any additional amounts due as soon as possible after the start of term.
	
		
			 Table 1: Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland students 
			  24 September 2012 8 October 2012 22 October 2012 5 November 2012 19 November 2012 
			 Total number of applications for academic year 2012/13 610 630 640 640 650 
			 Total number of student finance application outstanding 100 80 50 50 30 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Breakdown of outstanding applications 
			  24 September 2012 8 October 2012 22 October 2012 5 November 2012 19 November 2012 
			 Applications awaiting signatures from applicant 50 40 20 20 10 
			 Applications awaiting further details or evidence 30 20 20 20 10 
			 Applications currently being assessed 20 20 10 10 10

Vocational Training

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  with reference to the announcement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills on 20 November 2012, at the Association of Colleges Annual Conference 2012, whether the new traineeship scheme will be in operation and open to all applicants in time for the 2013-14 academic year;
	(2)  with reference to the announcement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills on 20 November 2012, at the Association of Colleges Annual Conference 2012, what the academic and training content of the new traineeships will be;
	(3)  whether he will be prioritising any sector frameworks in his introduction of traineeships; and if so, if he will publish those sectors.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is considering how a new Traineeships programme could be implemented as part of our overall offer for young people. We expect that Traineeships will include a rigorous core of work preparation, a work placement, and English and maths.
	We plan to issue a discussion document shortly and will invite employers, providers and other partners to support us in formulating the detail of Traineeships, building on effective practice and experience.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general hospitals in England provide accident and emergency services which include major injury and trauma; and how many beds there are at each such hospital.

Anna Soubry: Injury and trauma patients occupy beds in many specialties across all acute national health service hospitals, including:
	orthopaedics;
	plastic surgery;
	general surgery;
	ear;
	ENT;
	maxillofacial surgery;
	ophthalmology;
	neurosurgery;
	cardiothoracic;
	intensive care;
	general medicine and others.
	In each service they will occupy a variable proportion of the bed complement dependent on the unpredictable case load on any particular day. The remainder of the beds are occupied by other emergency cases and elective surgery patients. There is therefore no specific bed complement for injury and trauma; it is a demand-led service.
	As of April 2012 in NHS England there are 26 designated major trauma centres, with locations determined by NHS strategic health authorities. They are the hub of regional trauma networks composed of all the local hospitals and are also linked up to specialist services (such as burns, spinal cord injury, paediatrics) as required. Major trauma beds are located in different specialities and vary according to the mix of patients with different injuries at that time.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has (a) issued guidance and (b) (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned any research or studies on travel times to accident and emergency departments since May 2010.

Anna Soubry: The Department has neither issued any guidance on travel times to accident and emergency departments nor has it commissioned or conducted any research or studies on travel times since May 2010. It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency services that are responsive to people's needs.

Arthritis

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to see a rheumatology nurse specialist following their initial diagnosis in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: We are not aware that this information is held in the Department.

Arthritis

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the use of the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation scheme in improving the quality of care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Local commissioners are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations and for determining the priority for service improvements. The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme is one way through which local commissioners can incentivise improvements in quality for local clinical priorities, which could include services for people with musculoskeletal conditions. There is no national monitoring of local CQUIN schemes.

Care Homes: Learning Disability

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people with learning disabilities whose care is paid for by the NHS are being cared for in facilities owned by private companies.

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission "Count Me In" national census of in-patients and patients on supervised community treatment in mental health and learning disability services in England and Wales found that in 2010 of a total of 3,376 patients with learning disabilities, 1,072 (29.4%) were with independent providers.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish its proposed sexual health policy document.

Anna Soubry: The sexual health policy document will set out the framework for improving all aspects of sexual health in England. We plan to publish the document before the end of the year.

Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the planned national clinical audit will include analysis examining the provision of personal care plans and access to treatments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the expected publication date is for the national clinical audit on rheumatoid arthritis.

Norman Lamb: An invitation to tender for the delivery of the national clinical audit on rheumatoid and early inflammatory arthritis was published in November 2012 by the Healthcare Quality Improvement partnership (HQIP). A contract for this work is expected to be awarded by HQIP in April 2013. Details of the publication schedule for this audit will be published following the commencement of this contract.
	Details to tender for the planned national clinical audit will depend on the supplier selected following the procurement process. The specification for this audit was developed following a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the audit proposal. Minutes of this meeting can be fund on the HQIP website:
	www.hqip.org.uk/arthritis

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which EU countries UK citizens are required to have a European health insurance card to access health services by reciprocal arrangements.

Anna Soubry: The European Health Insurance Card entitles the holder to access clinically necessary, state-funded medical treatment while on a temporary visit to another European Economic Area (EEA) country on the same basis as a resident of that country.
	The card is accepted in all 31 EEA countries:
	Austria
	Belgium
	Bulgaria
	the Czech Republic
	Cyprus
	Denmark
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Greece
	Hungary
	Iceland
	Ireland
	Italy
	Latvia
	Liechtenstein
	Lithuania
	Luxembourg
	Malta
	Norway
	Poland
	Portugal
	Romania
	Spain
	Sweden
	Slovakia
	Slovenia
	Sweden
	Switzerland
	the Netherlands
	the United Kingdom.

Health: Disadvantaged

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to tackle health inequality.

Anna Soubry: The Government is committed to reducing health inequalities as part of a wider focus on fairness and social justice and improving health outcomes for all. As well as helping people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, our aim is to improve the health of the poorest fastest.
	As a result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, we are introducing the first specific legal duties on health inequalities for NHS commissioners and the Secretary of State. The duties include:
	the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups will have a duty to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities in access to, and the outcomes of, health care, and;
	the Secretary of State will have a wider duty, to have regard to the need to reduce inequalities relating to the health service (including both NHS and public health, and relating to all the people of England).
	We believe that the provisions in the Act will be a powerful force for tackling health inequalities and improving the health of those with greater health needs.
	The Government supports the Institute of Health Equity, based at University College London and led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, which helps promote the findings of the “Fair Society, Healthy Lives” review of health inequalities across the NHS, public health and local government.
	Within a broad strategy to tackle health inequalities across the country, we are also exploring how to address the health needs of those most vulnerable to poor health outcomes, through the Inclusion Health programme.

Latex: Allergies

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce the difficulties experienced by patients in hospitals diagnosed with severe latex allergies;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Surrey and (b) England who have latex allergies.

Norman Lamb: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued general advice on its website in relation to latex reactions (allergies) and medical devices, which can be found at the following address:
	www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Generalsafety informationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice/Product-specificinformationandadvice-G-L/Latexre actions(allergies)andmedicaldevices/index.htm
	The National Patient Safety Agency published advice in May 2005 which can be found at the following address:
	www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?entryid45=59791
	Information on the number of people in Surrey and England who have latex allergies is not held centrally.

Medical Treatments

Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to prevent cost-based rationing of treatments since June 2012.

Anna Soubry: The Department is clear that commissioners must comply with their legal requirements when taking commissioning decisions. Last year, the medical director of the national health service, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, wrote to medical directors in strategic health authorities to remind them that, in particular, commissioners must ensure they:
	do not introduce outright blanket bans for interventions or treatments;
	are sensitive to individual circumstances, clinical need and take account of those circumstances in any decisions;
	have systems in place to enable exceptional case reviews; and
	have robust policies in place which can support clear and defensible decisions on whether access to services will or will not be possible.
	Where the Department has been made aware of suggested cases of rationing, it has worked through strategic health authorities to investigate. No evidence of rationing has been found through these investigations.

Mental Health Services

Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people waited for mental health services on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme for more than (a) 18 and (b) 28 days in the last quarter for which figures are available.

Norman Lamb: Not all of the information requested is collected. However, the number of people waiting more than 28 days for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme services in the last reporting quarter (Q1 2012-13—1 April-30 June) is 119,343.

Mental Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he has spent on training therapists through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme by (a) cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) at step 2, (b) CBT at step 3, (c) counselling for depression, (d) couples therapy for depression, (e) dynamic interpersonal therapy and (f) interpersonal psychotherapy in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The following table gives estimates for the amount spent on Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (IAPT) training fees in each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12 for each modality of therapy.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Therapy 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Step 2 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) 2,190,000 4,430,000 2,620,000 2,680,000 
			 Step 3 CBT 4,870,000 10,040,000 6,230,000 2,910,000 
			 Counselling for Depression — — 192,000 204,000 
			 Couple Therapy for Depression — — 44,000 (1)207,000 
			 Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy — — 189,000 81,000 
			 Interpersonal Psychotherapy — — 258,000 246,000 
			 (1) Includes training fees for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence approved Behavioural Couples Therapy 
		
	
	In addition, to increase the CBT work force within the national health service we have paid the salaries of CBT trainees for the training year. The following table sets out the estimated expenditure in each year.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Therapy 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Step 2 CBT 9,863,000 19,951,000 11,799,000 6,845,000 
			 Step 3 CBT 15,382,000 31,711,000 19,677,000 7,391,000

Methadone

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of individuals in receipt of methadone prescriptions are (a) entitled and (b) not entitled to free prescriptions;
	(2)  what rate is paid to chemists and pharmacists for methadone on prescription in each primary care trust area;
	(3)  what the cost to the NHS was of prescribing methadone as an opiate substitute in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Information is not held centrally on the number of people prescribed particular medicines or the medical condition being treated. The NHS Prescription Services does however hold information on the number of methadone prescription items dispensed in England, supplied free of charge or paid for at the point of dispensing. Information for the latest complete calendar year is provided as follows.
	
		
			 Payment status of methadone items, prescribed in the United Kingdom and dispensed, in the community, in England—2011 (1,2) 
			  Charged Exempt from charge at the point of dispensing (3) 
			 Quantity (Thousand) 63.0 2,904.5 
			 Percentage 2.1 97.9 
			 (1) Data has been supplied for methadone products listed under British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.7.2 (Opioid Analgesics) and 4.10.3 (Opioid Dependence). Medicines listed under BNF section 3.9.1 which relates to cough mixtures containing methadone have been excluded. It is not possible from the information collected from prescriptions to be sure whether a particular prescription was for pain relief or substance dependence. (2) The data excludes items dispensed in prisons, hospital and private prescriptions, but does include dental, prison and hospital NHS prescriptions, which are dispensed in the community. (3) Figure may include prescriptions issued to holders of prepayment certificates. The NHS Prescription Services cannot provide any further information about the number of prescriptions issued to holders of prepayment certificates as exemption category data is not available at product level. Source: NHS Prescriptions Services Base data. 
		
	
	For dispensing oral liquid methadone on prescription, contractors are paid a professional fee (90p) and a Schedule 2 controlled drug (CD) fee (128p) for each dispensing episode. Contractors are also paid a fee of £4.05 per prescription. For other formulations of methadone, the contractor is only paid the professional fee and Schedule 2 CD fee for each dispensing episode.
	Fees are agreed nationally as part of funding for the community pharmacy contractual framework. They are not set by individual primary care trusts.
	The net ingredient cost of methadone for the most recent complete five years is provided in the following table. These figures do not include dispensing fees or any other costs associated with prescribing methadone, which can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Net ingredient cost (NIC) of methadone prescription items written in the UK and dispensed, in the community, in England ( Thousnd ) (1) 
			  NIC (£) 
			 2007 29,143.2 
			 2008 34,472.0 
			 2009 36,314.4 
			 2010 37,535.4 
			 2011 29,903.6 
			 (1) Data has been supplied for methadone products listed under British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.7.2 (Opioid Analgesics) and 4.10.3 (Opioid Dependence). Medicines listed under BNF section 3.9.1 which relates to cough mixtures containing methadone have been excluded. It is not possible from the information collected from prescriptions to be sure whether a particular prescription was for pain relief or substance dependence. Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system supplied by the NHS Information Centre.

Methadone

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of those who have completed a methadone course and who are no longer prescribed methadone have subsequently used (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) alcohol, (e) amphetamine, (f) cocaine and (g) MDMA.

Anna Soubry: This information is not collected centrally.

Muscular Dystrophy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the amount spent by the NHS on unplanned emergency admissions to hospitals for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Information on the cost of unplanned emergency admissions to hospital for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions is not collected centrally.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider introducing a national musculoskeletal conditions patient experience survey; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Information on the experience of patients with musculoskeletal conditions is available from a number of sources. The 2011 Health Survey for England included a module on chronic pain, including pain of musculoskeletal origin, and results will be published in the near future together with those of the first national pain audit.
	One of the overarching indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework will give information on the quality of life for people with long-term conditions, and earlier work indicates that the experience of people with musculoskeletal conditions will make a major contribution to this indicator.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will be held accountable for improving the quality of life for people with long-term conditions, including those with musculoskeletal disease, and it will be for the board to determine what additional information they may need in order to meet this responsibility.

NHS: Procurement

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what review of NHS tariffs has been undertaken in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The national Payment by Results tariffs are subject to ongoing development. The Department works with a number of clinical and technical advisory groups that provide advice on the structure and scope of the tariff.
	The draft tariff for 2012-13 was shared with clinicians and a number of national health service organisations in October 2011 for ‘sense checking’. This is a key stage in tariff development where prices are reviewed so that any anomalies or perverse clinical incentives can be identified and addressed. The 2012-13 tariff was subsequently published for ‘road testing’ in December 2011, and the final tariff package for 2012-13 was published in February 2012.
	The draft tariff for 2013-14 was shared for ‘sense checking’ in September and October 2012, and the tariff will be published for ‘road testing’ in December 2012.

NHS: Public Appointments

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what basis Tim Higginson has been appointed chief executive-designate of a trust which does not exist; and from which budget the cost of appointment and any salary arising from that appointment will be paid prior to the formal creation of any such trust;
	(2)  who is responsible for the authorisation of any expenditure incurred by the appointment of a chief executive-designate to a putative new trust.

Anna Soubry: Tim Higginson has been asked by the chief executive of London Strategic Health Authority, Ruth Carnall, to lead a piece of exploratory planning work with regard to the possible bringing together of Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.
	This planning work is being undertaken as part of Mr Higginson's existing duties and remuneration. No decisions have been taken about the future of these two hospitals. The Trust Special Administrator (TSA) appointed to South London Healthcare NHS Trust (SLHT) continues to seek views and ideas to help improve his draft recommendations through the current consultation process. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has an open mind on the future of SLHT and on other related matters which are the subject of draft recommendations by the TSA. The Secretary of State will make his decision on what action should be taken in relation to SLHT within the specified statutory period following receipt of the final report from the TSA.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the planned acquisition of the North Cumbria Trust by the Northumbria Healthcare Trust to be complete.

Daniel Poulter: The acquisition of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a matter for the local national health service.
	The hon. Member may wish to contact the chief executive at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust about this issue.

Palliative Care

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who (a) was invited and (b) attended his Department's roundtable discussion on the Liverpool Care Pathway held on 26 November 2012.

Norman Lamb: I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the Liverpool Care Pathway on 26 November 2012. Organisations invited were:
	Age UK
	Association for Palliative Medicine
	British Geriatrics Society
	Care Not Killing Alliance
	Help the Hospices
	Macmillan
	Marie Curie Cancer Care
	Medical Ethics Alliance
	National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC)
	National End of Life Care Programme
	NHS Commissioning Board
	Royal College of General Practitioners
	Royal College of Nursing
	Royal College of Physicians
	University of Liverpool
	Invitations were also sent to patient and family representatives.
	Those attending were
	Tony Bonser—Chair of the People in Partnership Group of NCPC
	Fiona Bruce MP
	Dr Patrick Cadigan—Consultant Cardiologist Sandwell Hospital; Registrar Royal College of Physicians of London
	Denise Charlesworth-Smith—patient and families representative
	Amanda Cheesley—Long Term Conditions Adviser Royal College of Nursing
	Dr Anthony Cole JP FRCPE FRCPCH—Chairman Medical Ethics Alliance
	Dr Jane Collins—CEO Marie Curie Cancer Care
	Professor John Ellershaw—University of Liverpool
	Claire Henry—Director, National End of Life Care Programme
	Ruthe Isden—Public Services Programme Manager, Age UK
	Baroness Knight of Collingtree
	Professor Patrick Pullicino—Consultant Neurologist, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Kent, Canterbury
	Stephen Richards—Director of England, Macmillan Cancer Support
	Eve Richardson—Chief Executive, The National Council for Palliative Care and Dying Matters Coalition
	Dr Heather Richardson—National clinical lead, Help the Hospices
	Dr Peter Saunders—Campaign Director of the Care Not Killing Alliance
	Professor Keri Thomas—Clinical Expert in End of Life Care, Royal College of General Practitioners; National Clinical Lead, the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Centre for End of Life Care
	De Bee Wee—President, the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland
	Dr Martin Vernon—Consultant Geriatrician, Manchester; British Geriatrics Society Spokesperson for End of Life Care

Palliative Care

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his announcement of an independent review into the Liverpool Care Pathway, what the timetable is for appointing a chair of the review; how the review will provide a clear and transparent mechanism for patients, patient representative groups and other stakeholders to submit evidence to it; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: I hope to announce the chair for the independent review of the use and experience of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) very shortly.
	The review will draw together the work of the National End of Life Care Programme, the Association for Palliative Medicine and Dying Matters which are each investigating different aspects of the LCP. Patients, families and patient groups are already contributing to Dying Matters's user engagement work on LCP. The National End of Life Care Programme is undertaking a review of hospital complaints relating to integrated care pathways for end of life care and has commissioned a literature review from Nottingham university. The APM will run a survey of health professionals to explore their experience and views of integrated care pathways including the LCP.
	Patients, patient representatives groups and other stakeholders will be able to submit evidence to the independent chair directly.

Prostate Cancer

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the amount spent on funding research into prostate cancer by (a) the Government and (b) the third sector in each of the last 10 years.

Daniel Poulter: Estimated figures for total expenditure on prostate cancer research by Government and by the third sector in each of the last 10 years are not available.
	Prior to the establishment of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer. They do not provide details of research into particular cancer sites.
	The NIHR funds research infrastructure for clinical studies in prostate cancer through the NIHR Cancer Research Network, and experimental cancer medicine centres funded jointly with Cancer Research UK. Data for NIHR spend on prostate cancer research through these infrastructure funding streams cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure on the funding streams.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to ensure that the work of the Trust Special Administrator for South London Healthcare NHS Trust takes place with appropriate scrutiny, oversight and authority.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State has issued statutory guidance for Trust Special Administrators (TSAs) appointed to national health service trusts in England, to which they must have regard in carrying out their duties under Chapter 5A of the NHS Act 2006. A copy of the guidance, entitled “Statutory Guidance for Trust Special Administrators appointed to NHS Trusts”, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/07/statutory-guidance-tsa/
	It is the Secretary of State who will take the final decision about the action to be taken in relation to South London Healthcare NHS Trust, following receipt of the final report from the TSA.

Thalidomide

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, columns 309-10W to the hon. Member for North Cornwall, on thalidomide, when he plans to make an announcement on the future funding of thalidomide survivors.

Norman Lamb: An announcement on future funding for thalidomide survivors will be made shortly.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Exports

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of trends in the (a) distance travelled and (b) time taken to travel by live animals exported from the UK in the last five years;
	(2)  whether he has made an estimate of the (a) average and (b) longest time taken on travel and transportation for live animals exported from the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Heath: There has been no assessment of time travelled or distance. The EU legislation lays down the maximum journey time limits and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency checks returned journey logs to ensure that these journey time limits have been observed. If not, they will take proportionate enforcement action against the transporter.

Ash Dieback Disease

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the findings of the Forestry Commission survey of conditions in ash woodlands to be published.

David Heath: The Forestry Commission published information on the health of ash trees in Great Britain on 31 October 2012. This was information that had been summarised from the results from a total of 6,896 one hectare squares surveyed between November 2009 and October 2012 in the National Forest inventory field survey programme.
	Findings from the Rapid Survey to determine if Chalara fraxinea was present in the wider environment have been published on the Forestry Commission website in map format. This map shows the general location of confirmed infected sites. Although the Rapid Survey was concluded on 7 November 2012, the map is being updated on a regular basis as new information becomes available.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the potential cost of vaccinating all calves for tuberculosis.

David Heath: We are not currently able to estimate the potential cost of vaccinating all calves for tuberculosis as a vaccine is not available for use in the field. However, we remain committed to developing affordable and usable vaccines and are investing significantly in this work.
	How and where cattle vaccine is deployed will be an important consideration, bearing in mind that vaccination should be used alongside other measures to maximise its effectiveness. Vaccinating all cattle or all calves throughout England may not therefore be the most efficient use of vaccination.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if he will estimate the potential cost of testing cows for tuberculosis before culling them; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if his Department will consider developing a policy to ensure that healthy cows are not killed for being at risk of having tuberculosis.

David Heath: In 2009-10 the TB cattle testing programme in England cost the Government around £30 million. Nearly all of the cattle slaughtered for TB control reasons have reacted positively to a fully validated diagnostic test. In some circumstances cattle identified as being at higher risk will be slaughtered with the owner's agreement.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost of trapping and testing badgers for tuberculosis;
	(2)  if he will consider developing a policy to ensure that only infected badgers are killed in the process of controlling tuberculosis in badgers.

David Heath: The cost of cage-trapping and testing badgers for tuberculosis has not been estimated. However, the cost of cage-trapping and vaccinating badgers is estimated to be £2,250 per sq km per year. The cost of cage-trapping and shooting badgers is estimated to be £2,500 per sq km per year. These costs are set out in the impact assessment available online at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/documents/bovine-tb-impact-assessment.pdf
	Ideally, a culling strategy would be selective, i.e. culling only infected badgers, or badgers in a sett where bovine TB has been detected. However, this requires a diagnostic test that is sensitive enough to detect reliably a high proportion of infected animals. Any infected badgers that were not detected and therefore left behind, could pose an increase in disease risk through perturbation. There is no diagnostic test yet available that is both sufficiently sensitive and practical for use in the field. Therefore a policy of selective culling cannot currently be pursued.
	DEFRA is continuing to fund research and development of diagnostic tests for TB in badgers, including tests for individual animals and those that could be used on a whole sett basis.

Cats

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of abandoned cats being dealt with by animal welfare charities; and what plans he has to tackle irresponsible cat breeding.

David Heath: There has been a reported rise in the number of abandoned cats, which may be due in part to the economic situation. The Government urges anyone who is considering acquiring a cat to fully understand what it involves and what it costs. We also advise owners to neuter their cats if they are not seriously considering breeding from it. Lastly, all owners and keepers of cats must provide for the welfare needs of their animals, as required by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Livestock: Animal Welfare

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that concentrated animal feeding operations should not be permitted in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: The UK's animal welfare and environmental standards are among the highest in the world and apply equally to all livestock farms, regardless of scale.
	DEFRA recognises that the UK should seek to produce more food to meet growing demand, deliver consumer choice and be competitive on domestic, EU and global markets.
	All methods of production can support this at any scale as long as those welfare and environmental standards are met.

Livestock: Transport

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will instruct Animal Health to permit the RSPCA to inspect all vehicles passing through UK ports; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: The RSPCA has no statutory powers to undertake inspections under the welfare in transport legislation. In relation to those transporters being inspected, AHVLA inspectors cannot insist that RSPCA inspectors take part in this inspection activity, whether at UK ports or at any other place of rest or transfer.

Meat: Imports

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statistics he holds and what checks are made on imports from the EU of (a) all mechanically-stripped meat and (b) Baader meat; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: Import statistics do not separately identify either mechanically separated meat, desinewed meat or ‘Baarder' meat from other types of boneless meat.
	With regard to checks on imports from the EU, the UK Government cannot routinely detain items moving in 'free circulation' within the European single market, as this contravenes the principles of the single market. The Food Standards Agency continues to work closely with industry to identify potentially mislabelled material.

Plastics: Packaging

Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many responses he received from (a) the plastics manufacturing industry (b) environmental organisations and (c) other stakeholders to the Consultation on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the plastics manufacturing industry in respect of the consultation on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012;
	(3)  what meetings he held with representatives of the plastics manufacturing industry on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

Richard Benyon: The consultation on higher packaging recovery and recycling targets for 2013-17 ran from 16 December 2011 until 10 February 2012. During this period DEFRA officials held 15 different meetings with groups of interested parties, including representatives of the plastics manufacturing industry.
	The consultation attracted three formal responses from plastic manufacturers (Nampak, RPC, BPI). There were three responses from trade associations representing the plastic manufacturing sector (BPF, PAFA, Plastics 2020).
	There were two responses from trade associations representing the wider plastic sector (Recoup, BPF Recycling Group) and six from plastic reprocessors (Closed Loop, Revalue Tech, Axion Polymers, PlasRecycle, SGL Fibers).
	87 responses were received from stakeholders representing the other materials included in the consultation (paper, glass, aluminium, steel and wood), local authorities, trade associations, packaging compliance schemes and reprocessors. There were no responses from environmental NGOs.
	After the decision on targets was announced in this year's Budget in March, the Department received a number of letters and other correspondence from representatives of the plastics manufacturing industry regarding the regulations. Officials also spoke at the BPF Recycling Seminar “Achieving Plastics Recycling Targets” on 11 October.
	The Under-Secretary of State, my noble Friend Lord de Mauley, met with representatives of the British Plastics Federation, the Packaging and Film Association and PlasticsEurope on 8 November to discuss the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.
	Following this meeting, officials met with the British Plastics Federation, the Packaging and Film Association and PlasticsEurope on 13 November.

Waste Management

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials of his Department worked under the Head of Waste in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date.

Richard Benyon: The following table gives the number of employees who worked in core DEFRA's waste programme on the dates shown in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
	
		
			  Headcount Full-time equivalent (FTE) 
			 31 March 2010 64 61.99 
			 31 March 2011 81 78.23 
			 31 March 2012 57 54.42 
			 31 October 2012 61 57.61

Zoos: Animal Welfare

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to protect the welfare of animals in zoos that host concerts, fireworks displays, festivals or similar events following the publication of the revised Standards of Modern Zoo Practice;
	(2)  whether the zoo inspection process allows inspectors to recommend a maximum number of visitors allowed at each zoo;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the system of licensing and inspection of zoos in protecting the welfare of animals in zoos that host concerts, fireworks displays, festivals or similar events;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 in protecting the welfare of animals when zoos and safari parks host concerts, fireworks displays, festivals and corporate events.

David Heath: Good animal welfare standards are achieved in the vast majority of zoos, in accordance with the requirements of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. The Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice set out the overarching standards against which zoos are regularly inspected. These require that animals are kept in suitable accommodation that allows them to express their most normal behaviour. The animals must also receive proper health care and protection from fear and distress. The Zoo Licensing Act does not contain specific provisions which require zoo operators to restrict visitor numbers.
	Responsibility for the licensing, inspection and oversight of the day-to-day operation of zoos rests with local authorities. The Act provides local authorities with powers to ensure that zoos comply with the terms of their licences, should the need arise.
	While any negative impact these events may have on animal welfare is to be deplored, the Government believes that sufficient powers and procedures are already in place to ensure good welfare standards and that a detailed separate assessment of their impacts would be disproportionate.
	All animals kept in captivity are also subject to protection under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This Act imposes a broad duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal to take reasonable steps to ensure that the animal's needs are met.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Comet Group

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to assist people in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK who lose their jobs as a result of the closure of Comet shops.

Mark Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), through Jobcentre Plus, offers a free at the point of contact Rapid Response Service (RRS) that aims to minimise the impact of redundancies by supporting people back into work and helping them navigate their way through the benefit system.
	Jobcentre Plus is working in partnership with Comet's appointed administrators, Deloitte, to provide support to employees affected by the store closures.
	In Scotland, Jobcentre Plus operates in conjunction with Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), a Scottish Government initiative. PACE is a framework for a consistent and co-ordinated public sector response to dealing with companies in difficulty, including redundancy. The key aim of PACE is to help people who have been made redundant into alternative employment or training, as quickly as possible. PACE is working in partnership with Deloitte to provide support to Comet employees affected by the store closures. In Glasgow North West constituency, Glasgow and Scotland this support has commenced through local engagement with Comet by phone and in person. PACE guides have also been made available to employees and one to one support will also be offered.
	The DWP National Employer Service Team (NEST) are working with both Deloitte and Comet to provide a co-ordinated national approach to ensure that the work force receives support to enable to them to find new jobs.
	Jobcentre Plus RRS teams will make contact with local stores as they are announced for closure to discuss providing support at a local level, within the constraints of the store closure process.
	For larger sites at Clevedon, Hull, Skelmersdale and Harlow, NEST will facilitate local links between Jobcentre Plus and Comet to agree any face to face arrangements either on site or at an agreed location, to talk to employees directly about the help and support available.
	In addition to this NEST are providing affected employees with:
	A DWP RRS Employee Factsheet, to be issued along with redundancy notice, directing employees to available support; and
	Job focused products explaining job search techniques, CV preparation, online recruitment and Universal Jobmatch.
	Deloitte and Comet have also agreed their own package of support which includes:
	A dedicated employee helpline;
	An employee help sheet, explaining the administration process;
	An established relationship with 35 national retailers and facilitating connection with employees; and
	A Comet network on LinkedIn with jobs feed.

Council Tax Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged under 65 are in receipt of passported and non-passported council tax benefit in each local authority area.

Steve Webb: The requested information will be placed in the Library.

Disability Living Allowance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households affected by the benefit cap where at least one member is in receipt of disability living allowance.

Mark Hoban: All households who receive disability living allowance are exempt from the benefit cap.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people in receipt of employment and support allowance died in each calendar year since 2010.

Mark Hoban: The Department has published ad hoc statistics on Incapacity Benefits: Deaths of recipients on 9 July 2012. This covers ESA figures for 2010-11 (latest figures available) and can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/index.php?page=adhoc_analysis_2012_q3

Epilepsy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with epilepsy his Department has helped into employment since May 2010.

Esther McVey: Between 1 May 2010 and 30 June 2012, 1,480 individuals in Great Britain were helped by the Access to Work programme and whose reported primary medical condition was epilepsy.(1)
	Between 1 June 2011 and 31 July 2012, 20 individuals in receipt of employment and support allowance/incapacity benefit, whose reported primary medical condition was epilepsy, achieved a job outcome as part of the Work programme.(2)
	Primary health condition is recorded only for employment and support allowance/incapacity benefit claimants. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. Medical condition is based on evidence provided and this in itself does not confer entitlement to employment support allowance/incapacity benefit.
	Figures are not available for those on the Work programme in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (JSA). Disabling conditions for individuals on JSA are taken from the Labour Market System (LMS) database. Epilepsy is not one of the self-reported conditions recorded on LMS.
	Sources:
	(1) Access to Work database. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	(2) DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS). Figures are cumulative and are rounded to the nearest 10.

Future Jobs Fund

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness was taken into consideration when the decision was made to discontinue the Future Jobs Fund.

Mark Hoban: At up to £6,500 per person the Future Jobs Fund was five times more expensive than some other elements of the previous Government's Young Person's Guarantee. The fund did not ensure sustainable employment for young people; it created short-term jobs; and the grants did not include any incentives to move people into permanent posts. Reducing the scope of the programme saved up to £290 million to help the Government tackle the unprecedented £156 billion deficit.

Hyperactivity

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department have had with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder disability organisations with regard to personalised independence payment.

Esther McVey: Throughout the development of personal independence payment we have engaged and consulted with a wide range of disability organisations. This engagement has included one informal and three formal consultations.
	As part of our engagement we have met with groups representing the interests of children and young people such as Every Disabled Child Matters.

Incapacity Benefit

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people who were on incapacity benefit and were previously in receipt of invalidity benefit have been transferred to contributions-based employment and support allowance;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who were on incapacity benefit and were previously in receipt of invalidity benefit who will be transferred to contributions-based employment and support allowance by April 2014;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect that the payment of income tax on employment and support allowance will have on the incomes of people who have been transferred to that benefit from incapacity benefit and who had previously been in receipt of invalidity benefit.

Mark Hoban: The Department recently released official statistics on the outcomes of claimants undergoing the incapacity benefits reassessment (IBR) process. The publication can be found at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php? page=esa_ibr
	Information on the number of claimants going through IBR who were previously transferred to incapacity benefit from invalidity benefit has not been provided as it would be available only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2011, Official Report, columns 1015-16W, on jobseeker's allowance, what the (a) jobseeker's allowance claimant count, (b) jobseeker's allowance claimant count for people aged 16 to 24 years old, (c) average weekly jobseeker's allowance payment and (d) average weekly jobseeker's allowance payments to claimants aged 16 to 24 years old was in 2011-12; and what his Department projects such figures to be in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.

Mark Hoban: The information requested can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Claimant count—total 1,523,000 1,607,000 1,559,000 1,436,000 
			 Claimant count—16 to 24-years-old 454,000 423,000 370,000 310,000 
			      
			 Average weekly jobseeker's allowance—total (£) 64.03 66.35 68.73 71.33 
			 Average weekly jobseeker's allowance—16 to 24-years-old (£) 54.86 57.53 58.84 60.23 
			 Sources: 1. 2011-12: DWP statistical data and NOMIS official labour market statistics. 2. 2012-13 onwards: OBR claimant count forecasts published at the March 2012 Budget, combined with DWP projections of caseloads and average amounts by age of claimant, underpinning the OBR's March 2012 fiscal forecasts.

Pension Funds

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the research paper from the Financial Services Authority entitled Conflicts of Interest between Asset Managers and their Customers, published in November 2012, what steps he is taking to ensure that research funding attributed by asset managers to pension scheme funds is not being used to cross-subsidise research for other clients.

Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. This question has been passed on to the FSA, which will reply to the hon. Member directly by letter, A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.

Personal Independence Payment

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide an information service for people preparing to apply for personal independence payments.

Esther McVey: There will be a range of support available for those applying for personal independence payment. This will include online information at gov.uk, information leaflets and support from a helpline.
	We recognise the key role of disability organisations and continue to work to build awareness. We will provide them with information and signposting advice to help them support their customers.

Poverty

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in work and in poverty in (a) Wirral South constituency, (b) Wirral, (c) Merseyside, (d) the North West and (e) the UK in each of the last five years.

Mark Hoban: Estimates of the number of working age adults in work and the number of working age adults in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI measures poverty both before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC).
	The requested information cannot be provided for (a) Wirral south (b) Wirral or (c) Merseyside; as data are not available below regional level. The requested information can be provided for the north west, and for the UK.
	
		
			 Number of working age individuals with at least one adult in the family in work falling below 60% of net equivalised median income, before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC), 2006-07 to 2010-11, for the UK and the north west region 
			 Millions 
			  Number in low income and in work BHC Number in low income and in work AHC 
			 Figures for the UK   
			 2006-07 2.6 3.8 
			 2007-08 2.8 4.1 
			 2008-09 3.0 4.3 
			 2009-10 2.8 4.1 
			 2010-11 2.8 4.1 
			    
			 Figures for the north west region (3 year averages)   
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 0.3 0.4 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 0.3 0.4 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 0.3 0.4 
			 2007-08 to 2009-10 0.3 0.4 
			 2008-09 to 2010-11 0.3 0.5 
			 Notes: These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2009-10 Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a before housing cost and an after housing cost basis. For before housing costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 6. Three survey years have been combined to produce regional estimates because single year estimates are not considered to be sufficiently reliable. 7. Numbers of working-age adults have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand working-age adults. Source: HBAI 2004-05 to 2010-11.

Social Security Benefits

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) non-UK nationals and (b) all other nationals received benefits in excess of the total benefit cap introduced in 2012 in each financial year since 1997-98; and what the total cost of such benefits was in each year.

Mark Hoban: This information is not available. Please note that the benefit cap will be introduced in April 2013.

Social Security Benefits

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who will be affected by the proposed benefits cap have never worked in the UK.

Mark Hoban: This information is not available.

Social Security Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the reason is for the difference between the Government's impact assessment which states that 56,000 households will be affected by the household benefit cap and the actual number of 89,000 households contacted by his Department and advised that they may be affected.

Mark Hoban: The 89,000 households is the total number of households contacted by mail out at three different points in time. In April 2012 initial contact was made with those who would be potentially impacted by the benefit cap in April 2013. This comprised 63,000 households. The exercise was repeated in July 2012 and again in September 2012. Only additional households who were not identified in the initial exercise were then included in this total.
	Over time households have changes of circumstances that result in changes to benefit payments, thus a larger number of contacted households reflects these changes. It does not indicate an increase in the number of potentially capped households.
	The reason that the number of 89,000 contacted is different from the 56,000 estimated in the impact assessment is that it is a cumulative figure therefore is not comparable to the 56,000, which is a snapshot of the number potentially impacted at one point in time. Figures underpinning the Impact Assessment include adjustments for certain exemptions such as the grace period for employment, that the direct mail was not able to incorporate.

Social Security Benefits: Polygamy

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefits can currently be claimed by individuals in polygamous marriages; and what the total cost of each benefit to people in such relationships has been in each financial year since 1997.

Mark Hoban: Claimants in polygamous marriages can claim income-related benefits such as income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, pension credit. In these cases the household are awarded the couple rate for the husband and first wife plus an additional sum for each subsequent wife. These benefits are only payable for wives residing in Great Britain.
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit entitlement for polygamous families is limited to those living in one property. There are no special rules for a husband to claim housing benefit for more than one property if his wives live separately.
	Contributory benefits make no provision for polygamous marriages. A member of a polygamous marriage can claim a contributory or income-related benefit in their own right where they satisfy the relevant conditions of entitlement.
	Information regarding the cost and number of polygamous households is not available.

Work Capability Assessment

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) Jobcentre Plus area have failed to attend a work capability assessment (WCA) appointment arranged by Atos Healthcare and subsequently had benefits stopped since the introduction of the WCA; and what the median length of time is that such people have been on incapacity benefits.

Mark Hoban: The information required is not available.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to the invitation to tender, whether it is still his policy that five per cent is the appropriate level for year 1 non-intervention performance on the Work programme for (a) JSA 18 to 24, (b) JSA 25 and over and (c) ESA flow; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he now assesses the appropriate levels for year 2 non-intervention performance on the Work programme to be (a) 30 per cent for JSA 18 to 24, (b) 25 per cent for JSA 25 and over and (c) 15 per cent for ESA flow, as set out in the invitation to tender; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: We are considering these issues. Performance has built up more slowly than our initial assumptions suggested; this is because participants are building towards job outcomes through multiple periods of shorter term employment. Providers are also taking longer than expected to track and claim outcomes. Our aspiration for the total levels of outcomes to be achieved by providers remains the same.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incentive payments his Department has made to Work programme providers since June 2011.

Mark Hoban: The Youth Contract, including wage incentives, went live on April 2012. From this point any young person attached to the Work programme could be placed into work with a wage incentive being offered to the employer.
	From late July 2012, in selected ‘youth unemployment hotspots', wage incentives became available via Jobcentre Plus to employ eligible 18 to 24-year-olds. In most cases the wage incentives element of the Youth Contract are paid after a young person has been in work continuously for 26 weeks.
	Following the collection and quality assurance of this data, the first set of Official Statistics on the wage incentive should be available from early 2013.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to publish the key performance measures, as defined in the Work programme invitation to tender, alongside future releases of Work programme performance data; and when he next plans to publish such data.

Mark Hoban: We have committed to publishing outcome statistics on a six monthly basis; the next publication will be on 28 May 2013. The key performance measure can be found in the invitation to tender.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons why his Department's expectation, set out in the Work programme invitation to tender, that providers will significantly exceed the minimum levels there specified has not been fulfilled.

Mark Hoban: Performance has built up more slowly than our initial assumptions suggested; this is because participants are building towards job outcomes through multiple periods of shorter term employment. Providers are also taking longer than expected to track and claim outcomes. Our aspiration for the total levels of outcomes to be achieved by providers remains the same.

EDUCATION

Open Access Scheme: Sutton Trust

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has made an assessment of the Sutton Trust's Open Access scheme to democratise entry to independent schools; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Gove: The Sutton Trust is a brilliant organisation. The aims of Open Access are admirable. But our focus must be on transforming all state schools. Through the expansion of the Academies programme and the introduction of free schools, we are increasing the number of good school places—many of them in disadvantaged areas.

Dedicated Schools Grant

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on small primary schools of his Department's recent funding reform of the dedicated schools grant.

David Laws: The current school funding system is unfair and out-of-date. It has resulted in similar schools across the country receiving vastly different levels of funding. We want a system which targets funding to pupils on a fair and transparent basis, regardless of where they go to school. This means that the majority of funding will be based on the needs of pupils and not the size or circumstances of schools.
	We recognise that small schools often play an important in local communities and, as we implement our funding reforms, we will ensure that the viability of good, small schools is not compromised.

Early Years Education

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he plans to improve the quality of early years education.

Elizabeth Truss: We will soon announce plans to improve the quality of early years education in response to Cathy Nutbrown.
	I am clear that the number one factor is recruiting and retaining high quality staff.
	All evidence suggests this is what makes an impact on children's development.

Enterprise and Business Skills

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to encourage enterprise and business skills through teaching in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Many schools already engage brilliantly with local enterprise, with students working with, and even setting up, their own business. From September 2013 the new 16 to 19 study programmes and funding reforms will encourage schools to offer all students work-related learning including enterprise projects or work experience. But there is more to do to encourage businesses to engage with local schools and colleges, and we are determined to do it.

Anti-smoking Initiatives

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment his Department has made of anti-smoking initiatives in schools.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government does not assess anti-smoking initiatives in schools.
	Pupils are taught about effect of tobacco on health as part of the National Curriculum for Science. In addition teachers can cover the facts about, and consequences of, smoking in non-statutory Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education.

Child Protection

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for child protection; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Despite well-intentioned reforms over the years, the current child protection system is not working as well as it could or should be. That is why we are currently undertaking a major reform of child protection based on the widely welcomed Munro Review. We are reducing central prescription on social workers so they can focus more on the needs of the individual child, investing in social work reform so we have the best professionals working with our most vulnerable children and are strengthening local safeguarding children boards and inspection regimes so that we can hold local agencies to account.

Vocational Education

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for vocational education; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: This Government commissioned, and have been implementing, Professor Wolf’s ground-breaking review of vocational education. We have already announced major changes to vocational qualifications and their teaching in schools and colleges. The expansion of apprenticeships and technical education is well under way and last week I announced plans for a new traineeship programme. Our reform programme will benefit almost half of young people and transform the quality and status of vocational education.

Children: Day Care

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 762W, on children: day care, whether there is a minimum staff:child ratio for children with special educational needs attending formal child care.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 27 November 2012
	All registered child care providers are required to abide by minimum staff:child ratios. The ratios vary depending on the age of the children; the type of provider and the qualifications of carers, but apply equally to children with special needs as they do to all other children. However, the law also requires that providers deploy their staff in a way that caters for the needs of all children in their care and ensures their safety. They must also promote equality of opportunity for children in their care, including support for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

Children: Nutrition

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to promote to children the importance of eating breakfast.

Elizabeth Truss: I understand the importance of children having a healthy breakfast. However, neither this Department nor schools have any influence or control over the food children and their parents choose to eat at home or outside of the school day. Many schools provide breakfast clubs, which parents and pupils can choose to use if they wish.

Health Education

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to (a) improve awareness of the importance of healthy eating in schools and (b) provide more cookery lessons dedicated to healthy eating.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government believes that it is very important that children and young people learn about the importance of eating healthily and acquire the knowledge that will equip them to prepare healthy meals.
	Although teaching about healthy eating does not form part of the compulsory curriculum, schools play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Often this is done through personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education at primary and secondary schools, where, for example, pupils learn about how a balanced diet and making choices for being healthy contribute to their personal well-being. In order to help schools plan health and well-being improvements for their pupils and to select activities which will help, we have developed the Healthy Schools toolkit, which is available at:
	http://tinyurl.com/healthyschoolskit
	Food technology, within which healthy eating can also be taught, is part of the design and technology curriculum, which is—and will remain—a compulsory national curriculum subject in maintained primary schools. We are currently considering what should be covered within design and technology in the new national curriculum and will make an announcement in due course. Secondary schools are able to choose whether to offer food technology or the study of textiles.

Home Education

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what financial support his Department provides to local authorities to support parents who wish to home-school their children.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 8 November 2012
	Parents who home educate their children have always taken on the full responsibility for their education. The Department does not provide local authorities with financial support for home educated children except where a child has special educational needs. Where local authorities provide significant support to a home educated child with special educational needs, they can claim funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Home Education

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will commission a study into the benefits of home-schooling, including an assessment of experiences of home-schooling in (a) Europe and (b) the US.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 8 November 2012
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has no plans to commission a study into the benefits of home education.

Home Education

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on home schooling.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 8 November 2012
	The Department for Education has received correspondence on home education from home educating parents and children, local authorities, and members of the public.

Outdoor Education

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that secondary school leaders and senior managers recognise the value of, and support the provision of, high-quality fieldwork in (a) geography, (b) science and (c) other practical subjects.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government recognises the positive contribution that fieldwork can make to the study of geography, science and other practical subjects. However, it is for individual schools to determine how they should use such experiences to enhance the teaching of these subjects.

Outdoor Education

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that the professional development of future school leaders and senior managers through the National College for School Leadership includes training to support the teaching of high-quality fieldwork in (a) geography, (b) science and (c) other practical subjects.

David Laws: The Department does not set the detailed content of professional development courses. In the case of leadership development, content is determined by the National college in consultation with high performing school leaders and with reference to evidence on effective school leadership practice.
	The National college's leadership development provision is now delivered through a modular curriculum. The aim of the modules is to ensure that leaders have the skills and knowledge to lead a broad and balanced curriculum that responds to pupil needs and national priorities, to constantly improve the quality of teaching and to ensure a safe and orderly environment. The modules include significant content and activities on curriculum leadership and relevant aspects of health and safety (including safeguarding, risk assessment and risk registers). In addition to its leadership development provision the college is working with teaching schools and their alliances to support high quality initial teacher training and continuous professional development for school staff.

Primary Education: School Meals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many primary schools in England and Wales provide optional breakfasts for pupils.

Elizabeth Truss: Since April 2011, former Standards Fund allocations for extended services have been mainstreamed into the dedicated schools grant, which is the main funding route for all maintained schools. Schools have freedom and flexibility across all their budgets, and can decide what, if any, extended services such as breakfast clubs they wish to provide.
	The Department does not collect information on the number of schools which choose to operate a breakfast club.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he plans to improve the system of per pupil funding for schools in England.

David Laws: The current system for funding schools is unfair and out-of-date. In March the Secretary of State announced our intention to introduce a new national funding formula which would redistribute funding on a fair, transparent and pupil-led basis.
	It is important that we reform the system at a pace that is manageable for schools and so our intention is to simplify the local funding system from 2013-14 before introducing a national funding formula during the next spending review period.

Science: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent steps his Department has taken to promote the teaching of science in schools.

Elizabeth Truss: Science education is at the heart of the Government's key education reforms. The review of the National Curriculum aims to ensure that the new primary and secondary curricula will focus on the essential knowledge that pupils need to be taught in science. Details of the draft new primary science programmes of study were published in June 2012 and a formal consultation on both the new primary and secondary science curriculum content will take place in early 2013. The Department is also currently consulting on a new suite of world class qualifications replacing GCSEs in core academic subjects, to be called English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs). The first teaching of EBCs in science, mathematics and English will be in 2015 with the first exams taken in 2017. The inclusion of science GCSEs in the English Baccalaureate will also help improve take up of these important subjects.
	The Department is continuing to support programmes that aim to promote better science teaching in schools. The national network of science learning centres provides science teachers and technicians with access to high quality professional development opportunities. The Stimulating Physics Network, delivered by the Institute of Physics, aims to support better physics teaching in schools so that more pupils, particularly girls, consider studying physics at A level. The Triple Science Support Programme provides advice and support to those schools that are not currently offering GCSE triple science or that have very few pupils taking studying all three sciences.
	The Department is taking action to recruit more specialist science teachers. This includes attracting the best graduates into science teaching through bursaries of up to £20,000. The Department has also teamed up with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry to offer £20,000 scholarships to the most gifted aspiring physics and chemistry teachers.

Surveys

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department plans to publish the results of its recent survey of conditions and staff attitudes.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education is participating in the 2012 Cabinet Office People Survey, which will provide an engagement index score for the Department. In line with Cabinet Office guidelines, the results will be published on the external departmental website by 31 January 2013. In addition, the Cabinet Office will publish the results on their own website
	www.data.gov.uk
	on 1 February 2013.

Teachers: Standards

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he plans to reward good teachers and remove bad teachers from the classroom.

David Laws: The Government has made it easier for schools to tackle underperformance with new appraisal and capacity arrangements. I have also asked the School Teachers' Review Body to make recommendations on how teachers pay could be more effectively linked to performance.

Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on the Tees Valley's sub-regional labour market of the proposed closure of his Department's regional offices.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 26 November 2012
	While the Department will leave the Mowden Hall site in Darlington, it has committed to retaining an office in the North East. We are exploring options for where this will be located and will consider the implications on labour markets as part of that process.

JUSTICE

Community Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to his Department was of community sentences for those aged (a) under 18 and (b) over 18-years-old in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows.
	(a) Local authorities have a statutory duty to deliver youth justice services through youth offending teams (YOTs). The Ministry of Justice contributes to these costs by funding the Youth Justice Board which makes youth justice grants to YOTs. This contribution represents around a third of YOT costs. The Ministry of Justice's contribution to the youth justice grant over the last four years is:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2012-13 101 
			 2011-12 101 
			 2010-11 107 
			 2009-10 109 
		
	
	This funding covers all youth justice costs of which the delivery of community sentences is part. YOTs do not record the specific cost of community sentences within their reporting to the Youth Justice Board so this information is not available centrally.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) spent almost £4 million on Attendance Centres which can be a requirement of a community or suspended sentence order. These costs cover those aged under 18 years and adults.
	(b) In 2011-12 the fully apportioned spend through Probation Trust budgets on Community Orders or Suspended Sentence Orders for those aged 18 years and over was £437 million. In addition, NOMS spent £47 million on electronic monitoring of curfew requirements.
	This excludes central NOMS overheads and costs to other Government Departments, such as drug, alcohol and mental health treatment.
	These data have been supplied by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). 2011-12 is the first year for which the spend through Probation Trust budgets can be broken down to provide a cost for Community Orders or Suspended Sentence Orders.

Community Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people sentenced to community payback in each of the last four years were (a) under 18, (b) 18 to 30, (c) 30 to 45 and (d) over 60-years-old.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of unpaid work requirements commenced under Community Orders, Suspended Sentence Orders and Youth Rehabilitation Orders from 2008 to 2011 (latest full year available).
	
		
			 Number of unpaid work requirements commenced under Community Orders, Suspended Sentence Orders and Youth Rehabilitation Orders (1) , by age, 2008 to 2011, England and Wales 
			 Age 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Under 18 0 0 1,701 2,867 
			 18 to 29 60,404 62,590 61,156 57,076 
			 30 to 44 27,777 28,411 28,622 27,973 
			 45 to 59 7,600 8,426 8,946 9,396 
			 60 and over 647 760 821 846 
			 All 96,428 100,187 101,246 98,l58 
			 (1 )The Youth Rehabilitation Order was introduced in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and implemented on 30 November 2009. Data were collected from 2010 onwards. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Community Orders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people who have been placed on the community payback scheme have not completed their scheme in each year since the inception of the scheme, by probation trust.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of unpaid work requirements terminated without successful completion under community orders, suspended sentence orders and youth rehabilitation orders by probation trusts from 2005 to 2011 (latest full year available). Requirements may be terminated without reaching their successful completion due to a variety of reasons, including failure to comply with conditions, further offences being committed, or for other more ‘neutral’ reasons such as a change in the offender's circumstances or the death of the offender.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Number of unpaid work requirements terminated without successful completion under community orders, suspended sentence orders and youth rehabilitation ord ers (1) , by probation trust, 2005 to 2011 ,  England and Wales 
			  2005 (2) 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Avon and Somerset 33 350 524 668 582 653 855 
		
	
	
		
			 Bedfordshire 15 153 221 272 289 329 266 
			 Cambridgeshire 15 162 291 487 452 431 515 
			 Cheshire 25 205 537 570 515 433 461 
			 Durham Tees Valley 55 348 718 912 744 512 583 
			 Cumbria 24 219 346 385 326 304 302 
			 Derbyshire 20 262 449 495 472 493 499 
			 Devon and Cornwall 70 375 542 461 531 480 434 
			 Dorset 4 153 330 291 210 215 203 
			 Essex 30 305 698 830 742 919 928 
			 Gloucestershire 15 101 171 235 243 199 180 
			 Hampshire 88 498 868 846 706 810 794 
			 West Mercia 25 242 396 458 493 467 473 
			 Hertfordshire 30 240 348 395 394 373 328 
			 Humberside 61 339 559 571 504 480 547 
			 Kent 54 414 732 875 838 948 913 
			 Lancashire 60 617 1,178 1,264 1,046 1,069 1,077 
			 Leicestershire 36 303 521 517 419 462 448 
			 Lincolnshire 20 172 353 333 303 280 295 
			 Greater Manchester 164 1,237 2,289 2,202 2,006 1,958 1,837 
			 Merseyside 57 484 876 423 646 834 748 
			 Norfolk and Suffolk 52 423 718 724 735 815 735 
			 Northamptonshire 14 98 258 243 281 282 323 
			 Northumbria 49 448 794 969 957 932 887 
			 Nottinghamshire 80 494 678 641 593 561 727 
			 Thames Valley 10 352 689 993 1,010 965 977 
			 Staffordshire and West Midlands 97 855 1,792 2,013 2,566 2,406 2,236 
			 Surrey and Sussex 47 460 720 926 928 927 841 
			 Warwickshire 10 112 210 272 251 239 223 
			 Wiltshire 12 129 232 266 237 249 253 
			 North Yorkshire 42 267 383 357 385 375 353 
			 South Yorkshire 67 499 766 824 889 891 868 
			 West Yorkshire 114 860 1,401 1,346 1,418 1,569 1,654 
			 Wales 116 969 1,672 1,817 1,677 1,689 1,757 
			 London 171 1,589 2,890 3,647 3,996 4,241 4,175 
			 (1) The Youth Rehabilitation Order was introduced in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and implemented on 30 November 2009. Data were collected from 2010 onwards. (2) These orders were introduced for offences committed after 4 April 2005.

Criminal Injuries Compensation: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list the meetings where he discussed with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister the recent reforms to the Criminal Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: Ministers have not met with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister about the recent reforms to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. However, there has been correspondence with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland regarding reforms to the scheme.
	The then Secretary of State for Justice first wrote in January 2012, at the time that the consultation document “Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses” was published, to set out the Government's proposals for reform. He wrote again in May 2012, once the consultation responses had been considered, setting out the Government's plans for reforms to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 and the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Scheme 2012.

Drugs: Misuse

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 October 2012, Official Report, column 125W, on drugs: misuse, if he will take steps to universally define the term drug dealer in (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: There are no plans for the Ministry of Justice or its arm's length bodies to provide a universal definition for the term ‘drug-dealer’. While there is not a statutory definition, there is a common understanding of what constitutes drug-dealing, informed by the offences in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and associated legislation. As drug dealing is considered to be a form of drug supply, I consider that the statutory provisions in place are adequate.

Grants

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland.

Helen Grant: During the financial year 2011-12, the following grant giving programmes were operated by the Ministry of Justice and other bodies for which the Secretary of State for Justice is responsible. Where these programmes award grants which affect Scotland, this has been noted.
	
		
			 Business area Name and purpose of programme(s) Does the programme award grants in Scotland? 
			 Ministry of Justice Headquarters Victims & Witnesses General Fund—Providing support to victims and witnesses of crime No 
			  Rape Support Fund—Providing direct, specialist support to victims of rape and other forms of sexual assault, including both recent and historic abuse No 
			  Homicide Fund—Providing support for families bereaved by homicide No 
			  Victim Support—Grant in aid No 
			  Independent Domestic Violence Advisers No 
			  Reducing Reoffending Voluntary Sector Infrastructure funding—Supporting the existence of a collaborative, accountable and effective national infrastructure representing and supporting diverse frontline voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises working to reduce youth and adult reoffending No 
			  Telephone advice and supporting services for International Child Abduction and International Contact No 
			  Supporting self represented parties within the court system No 
			  Supporting pro bono work No 
			  Funding for National Debt Line Yes. 5% of total funding for National Debt Line supports services in Scotland 
			  Strengthening the rule of law internationally—Supporting the John Smith Memorial Trust Fellowship Programme No(1) 
			    
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) NOMS Reducing Reoffending Voluntary Sector Grant Funding—Grant funding to build voluntary sector capacity, capability and infrastructure to reduce reoffending and support delivery of programmes to offenders No 
			    
			 Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) Youth Justice Grant—Principal funding path from YJB to Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) No 
			  Resettlement Consortia—A number of programmes with grants paid to small number of YOTs, and other organisations, taking part in bespoke work to deliver projects supporting the resettlement of young people into the community following custodial sentences No 
			  Restorative Justice Training—Paid to all YOTs to help fund training of two individuals within each YOT who will then train colleagues on aspects of Restorative Justice No 
		
	
	
		
			  Intensive Fostering—This is a grant paid to a small number of YOTs who runs schemes to provide placements for young people with foster carers. These carers who have been trained in the Multi Dimensional Treatment Foster Care Model. Intensive fostering is offered as part of a supervision order No 
			  Pathfinder—This is a bespoke grant to small groups of YOTs who are working on Pathfinder pilots to look at reducing the use of custody within their area No 
			  Academy Development—A grant is paid to an organisation and is used to develop academies for dance-led interventions with young offenders and young people at risk. This programme supports the work that the YJB is carrying out to engage disadvantaged young people and reduce their offending and risk of offending, particularly those engaged in knife and gang culture No 
			    
			 Legal Services Commission (LSC) Community Legal Service Grants—Core funding supporting the development of the legal advice provider base No 
			  Training Contract Grants—Funding to support the recruitment and retention of the next generation of legal aid lawyers No 
			 (1) MOJ part funds the John Smith Memorial Trust's Fellowship Programme for Fellows representing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The John Smith Fellowship Programme is an intensive, annual three-week programme, the focus of which is good governance, social justice and rule of law. It is aimed at the next generation of leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine—young people working in politics, local government or civil society with an established interest in promoting democratic reform. Those who complete the programme are known as 'Fellows'. The Fellows spend a week of the programme in Scotland, so a proportion of the award that the John Smith Memorial Trust receives from both Government and the private sector to run this programme is spent on a range of goods and services provided during that week. These goods and services include venue hire and hotel accommodation.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of how many other EU member states are ready to implement the EU Prisoner Transfer Agreement; and by what date each member state not ready to do so expects to complete its preparations to implement the agreement.

Jeremy Wright: We are aware that 11 member states other than the UK, have already implemented the EU PTA. The remaining member states are expected to implement by 2014. Further information is available on the Council of the European Union's website.

Prisons: Drugs

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the level of illegal drug use in prisons; and what steps he has taken to reduce this figure.

Jeremy Wright: Estimating the extent of a covert activity such as drug use in prisons is by nature very difficult. One measure is the proportion of prisoners testing positive under the random mandatory drug testing programme. In 2011-12, 7% of prisoners tested were positive, down from 24.4% in 1996-97.
	NOMS has a comprehensive range of measures to tackle drugs. These include drug detection dogs, procedures to tackle visitors who seek to smuggle drugs and phones into prisons, and mobile phone detection technology. NOMS is also increasing the number of drug free wings in prisons, rolling out a networked IT intelligence system and providing prisons with short range mobile phone blockers which will help prisons prevent prisoners using mobile phones, which is often associated with drug supply.

Prisons: Drugs

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many searches for narcotics among the prison population resulted in finds of (a) heroin and (b) needles used for drug taking in each of the last 10 years; and how many people serving a custodial sentence tested positive for heroin use in each such year.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of seizures of heroin in prisons across England and Wales for the period 1 January to 31 December in each year requested.
	
		
			  Seizures 
			 2002 1,365 
			 2003 1,237 
			 2004 1,391 
			 2005 1,332 
			 2006 1,283 
			 2007 1,152 
			 2008 820 
			 2009 696 
			 2010 474 
			 2011 330 
			 2012 (12 October) 208 
			 Total 10,288 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of needles found used for drug taking in prisons across England and Wales for the period 1 January to 31 December in each year requested.
	
		
			  Authentic needles Improvised needles 
			 2002 32 0 
			 2003 43 1 
			 2004 52 1 
			 2005 64 1 
			 2006 87 0 
			 2007 96 4 
			 2008 73 1 
			 2009 117 1 
			 2010 112 1 
			 2011 148 1 
			 2012 (12 October) 122 2 
			 Total 946 13 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of positive tests for opiates in prison across England and Wales for the period 1 January to 31 December in each year requested. It is important to note that the number of tests does not equal the number of prisoners tested positive as some prisoners may be tested more than once.
	NOMS tests for opiates abuse include heroin within all opiates. It is not possible to disaggregate the figure to identify heroin alone.
	
		
			  Number of positive opiates tests 
			 2011 2,040 
			 2010 3,442 
			 2009 4,965 
			 2008 5,836 
			 2007 7,284 
			 2006 6,308 
			 2005 6,266 
			 2004 5,579 
			 2003 4,247 
			 2002 4,936 
			 Total 50,903 
		
	
	All figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.

Prisons: Drugs and Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners addicted to (a) heroin and (b) alcohol in each prison;
	(2)  how many people serving a custodial sentence died of an overdose of heroin while in prison in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many people serving a custodial sentence participated in (a) maintenance-based and (b) abstinence-based drug treatment programmes in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	No recent estimate has been made by the Department on the number of prisoners addicted to heroin or alcohol as a nationwide total or by prison. However, further analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey of psychiatric morbidity among prisoners in England and Wales carried out for the Department in 1997 showed that, in the year before prison, 29% of male remand prisoners and 21% of male sentenced prisoners reported heroin use. The ONS data showed 41% of female remand prisoners and 26% of female sentenced prisoners reported heroin use.
	ONS data also showed that in the 12 months before coming into prison, 30% of male sentenced prisoners and 30% of male remand prisoners reported alcohol dependency. For female prisoners, 20% of sentenced prisoners and 19% of female remand prisoners reported alcohol dependency. Alcohol dependency was measured by ONS as a score of 16 or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.
	Data is not collected by the Department about the number of people serving custodial sentences who died from a heroin overdose while in prison.
	Data is available on the number of clinical interventions for opioid dependence since 2001 in prisons and is shown in the following table. It is only possible to disaggregate maintenance prescriptions from detoxifications since 2007-08 and caution should be shown when using this data because it refers to the total number of clinical interventions, not the number of prisoners receiving these treatments. Individual prisoners may receive more than one clinical intervention in any given year.
	
		
			 Number of clinical interventions for opioid (heroin) dependence among prisoners in England between 2001-02 and 2011-12: Maintenance-based prescription and abstinence-based detoxification programmes, male and female all ages 
			  Total number of in-year maintenance prescriptions Total number of individual in-year detoxification treatments provided Aggregate number of In-year clinical drug interventions 
			 2011-12 33,198 31,718 64,916 
			 2010-11 30,650 30,459 61,109 
			 2009-10 23,744 36,323 60,067 
			 2008-09 19,632 45,135 64.767 
			 2007-08 12,518 46,291 58,809 
			 2006-07 — — 51,520 
			 2005-06 — — 53,773 
			 2004-05 — — 53,903 
			 2003-04 — — 57,891 
			 2002-03 — — 50,701 
			 2001-02 — — 41,765 
			 Source: National Offender Management Service

Public Expenditure

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding from the Treasury Reserve his Department received in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Jeremy Wright: The Department received funding of £193.4 million in 2010-11 and £286.0 million in 2011-12 from the Treasury Reserve.

Re-offenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of people given (a) community and (b) custodial sentences reoffended in each of the last four years by police force area.

Jeremy Wright: This question has been answered using the Ministry of Justice's published proven re-offending statistics for England and Wales, broken down further by police force area. These statistics are published on a quarterly basis and the latest bulletin, for the period January to December 2010, was published on 25 October 2012.
	The tables show the number of adult offenders in England and Wales who were released from custody or commenced a court order, by police force area, in each year from 2007 to 2010; and the proportion that committed a proven re-offence within a one year follow-up period (i.e. the one year proven re-offending rate).
	Please note that 2010 is the latest full calendar year for which data are available.
	A proven re-offence is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up. Following this one year period, a further six month waiting period is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.
	Proven re-offending rates by sentence type should not be compared to assess their effectiveness as there is no control for known differences in offender characteristics.
	Please note that proven re-offending statistics are available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/reoffending/proven-re-offending
	
		
			 Number of adult offenders in England and Wales who were released from custody or commenced a court order, by police force area, in each year from 2007 to 2010; and the proportion that committed a proven re-offence within a one year follow-up period 
			  2007 2008 
			 Police Force Area (1) No. of offenders in cohort (2) No. of re-offenders Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) No. of offenders in cohort (2) No. of re-offenders Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) 
			 Court Order (3)       
			 Avon and Somerset 2,741 988 36.0 3,046 1,120 36.8 
			 Bedfordshire 1,168 393 33.6 1,266 390 30.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,920 665 34.6 1,963 681 34.7 
			 Cheshire 2,888 894 31.0 2,886 911 31.6 
			 City of London 214 63 29.4 250 90 36.0 
			 Cleveland 2,328 1,062 45.6 2,529 1,176 46.5 
			 Cumbria 1,639 623 38.0 1,720 664 38.6 
			 Derbyshire 2,664 867 32.5 2,994 889 29.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,633 940 35.7 2,654 922 34.7 
			 Dorset 1,377 474 34.4 1,508 487 32.3 
			 Durham 1,982 785 39.6 2,040 782 38.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,124 397 35.3 1,046 380 36.3 
			 Essex 4,118 1,331 32.3 3,891 1,298 33.4 
			 Gloucestershire 1,125 415 36.9 1,257 525 41.8 
			 Greater Manchester 9,262 3,308 35.7 9,088 3,185 35.0 
			 Gwent 1,638 617 37.7 1,606 580 36.1 
			 Hampshire 4,527 1,461 32.3 4,830 1,645 34.1 
			 Hertfordshire 2,427 732 30.2 2,466 808 32.8 
			 Humberside 2,725 1,000 36.7 2,826 1,044 36.9 
			 Kent 3,637 1,168 32.1 3,766 1,282 34.0 
			 Lancashire 4,799 1,889 39.4 4,907 1,868 38.1 
			 Leicestershire 2,754 842 30.6 2,652 784 29.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Lincolnshire 1,376 499 36.3 1,482 559 37.7 
			 Merseyside 4,450 1,433 32.2 4,629 1,636 35.3 
			 Metropolitan Police 16,281 5,679 34.9 17,263 6,050 35.0 
			 Norfolk 1,851 690 37.3 1,845 681 36.9 
			 North Wales 1,981 688 34.7 2,069 742 35.9 
			 North Yorkshire 1,924 683 35.5 1,997 744 37.3 
			 Northamptonshire 1,566 478 30.5 1,573 518 32.9 
			 Northumbria 4,532 2,129 47.0 4,694 2,172 46.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,488 1,366 39.2 3,424 1,249 36.5 
			 South Wales 4,237 1,623 38.3 4,622 1,749 37.8 
			 South Yorkshire 4,271 1,707 40.0 4,385 1,593 36.3 
			 Staffordshire 2,764 953 34.5 2,759 860 31.2 
			 Suffolk 1,423 464 32.6 1,465 508 34.7 
			 Surrey 1,589 503 31.7 1,649 529 32.1 
			 Sussex 3,458 1,153 33.3 3,401 1,109 32.6 
			 Thames Valley 4,113 1,416 34.4 4,124 1,450 35.2 
			 Warwickshire 1,175 397 33.8 1,153 404 35.0 
			 West Mercia 2,640 993 37.6 2,552 925 36.2 
			 West Midlands 8,907 3,185 35.8 8,383 2,950 35.2 
			 West Yorkshire 6,828 2,731 40.0 6,711 2,588 38.6 
			 Wiltshire 1,100 354 32.2 1,131 378 33.4 
			        
			 British Transport Police 908 363 40.0 1,109 421 38.0 
			        
			 Total 140,552 50,401 35.9 143,611 51,326 35.7 
			        
			 Custody       
			 Avon and Somerset 1,424 805 56.5 1,552 822 53.0 
			 Bedfordshire 600 265 44.2 628 284 45.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 726 344 47.4 826 424 51.3 
			 Cheshire 1,234 608 49.3 1,274 647 50.8 
			 City of London 166 70 42.2 186 73 39.2 
			 Cleveland 916 487 53.2 939 534 56.9 
			 Cumbria 615 331 53.8 649 356 54.9 
			 Derbyshire 1,199 541 45.1 1,379 658 47.7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,133 551 48.6 1,234 676 54.8 
			 Dorset 639 306 47.9 599 301 50.3 
			 Durham 585 330 56.4 623 337 54.1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 327 152 46.5 333 159 47.7 
			 Essex 1,633 788 48.3 1,760 896 50.9 
			 Gloucestershire 375 182 48.5 453 242 53.4 
			 Greater Manchester 3,986 1,898 47.6 4,289 2,076 48.4 
			 Gwent 565 281 49.7 593 289 48.7 
			 Hampshire 1,729 799 46.2 1,903 880 46.2 
			 Hertfordshire 834 403 48.3 772 370 47.9 
			 Humberside 1,395 729 52.3 1,515 731 48.3 
			 Kent 1,409 615 43.6 1,536 699 45.5 
			 Lancashire 1,750 843 48.2 1,789 845 47.2 
			 Leicestershire 957 428 44.7 1,027 489 47.6 
			 Lincolnshire 473 249 52.6 532 237 44.5 
			 Merseyside 2,194 1,059 48.3 2,344 1,101 47.0 
			 Metropolitan Police 8,625 4,056 47.0 9,768 4,637 47.5 
			 Norfolk 781 370 47.4 862 398 46.2 
			 North Wales 820 372 45.4 873 444 50.9 
			 North Yorkshire 670 352 52.5 699 364 52.1 
			 Northamptonshire 758 336 44.3 876 371 42.4 
			 Northumbria 1,329 739 55.6 1,453 849 58.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,370 710 51.8 1,380 707 51.2 
			 South Wales 1,762 909 51.6 2,004 1,060 52.9 
			 South Yorkshire 1,973 1,007 51.0 2,260 1,103 48.8 
		
	
	
		
			 Staffordshire 1,276 571 44.7 1,453 670 46.1 
			 Suffolk 606 304 50.2 604 299 49.5 
			 Surrey 581 282 48.5 614 294 47.9 
			 Sussex 1,374 662 48.2 1,478 676 45.7 
			 Thames Valley 1,732 857 49.5 1,887 888 47.1 
			 Warwickshire 378 159 42.1 409 186 45.5 
			 West Mercia 1,015 493 48.6 1,097 511 46.6 
			 West Midlands 4,548 2,353 51.7 4,791 2,504 52.3 
			 West Yorkshire 2,815 1,422 50.5 2,883 1,433 49.7 
			 Wiltshire 313 136 43.5 353 170 48.2 
			        
			 British Transport Police 491 264 53.8 572 301 52.6 
			        
			 Total 60,081 29,418 49.0 65,051 31,991 49.2 
		
	
	
		
			  2009 2010 
			 Police Force Area (1) No. of offenders in cohort (2) No. of re-offenders Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) No. of offenders in cohort (2) No. of re-offenders Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) 
			 Court Order (3)       
			 Avon and Somerset 3,334 1,170 35.1 3,467 1,197 34.5 
			 Bedfordshire 1,328 374 28.2 1,300 373 28.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,863 648 34.8 2,017 705 35.0 
			 Cheshire 2,960 908 30.7 2,871 870 30.3 
			 City of London 206 68 33.0 204 59 28.9 
			 Cleveland 2,643 1,167 44.2 2,494 1,165 46.7 
			 Cumbria 1,480 536 36.2 1,502 527 35.1 
			 Derbyshire 2,894 827 28.6 2,714 797 29.4 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,717 912 33.6 2,590 857 33.1 
			 Dorset 1,470 503 34.2 1,359 433 31.9 
			 Durham 1,981 784 39.6 2,034 890 43.8 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,164 424 36.4 1,119 417 37.3 
			 Essex 4,354 1,381 31.7 4,080 1,350 33.1 
			 Gloucestershire 1,184 453 38.3 1,106 355 32.1 
			 Greater Manchester 9,185 3,123 34.0 9,880 3,292 33.3 
			 Gwent 1,593 585 36.7 1,513 544 36.0 
			 Hampshire 4,544 1,539 33.9 4,860 1,618 33.3 
			 Hertfordshire 2,444 833 34.1 2,580 823 31.9 
			 Humberside 2,866 1,055 36.8 2,923 991 33.9 
			 Kent 3,946 1,318 33.4 3,841 1,301 33.9 
			 Lancashire 5,001 1,947 38.9 5,070 1,957 38.6 
			 Leicestershire 2,486 749 30.1 2,466 768 31.1 
			 Lincolnshire 1,477 479 32.4 1,437 483 33.6 
			 Merseyside 4,471 1,522 34.0 4,178 1,471 35.2 
			 Metropolitan Police 18,237 6,196 34.0 17,581 5,821 33.1 
			 Norfolk 1,871 680 36.3 1,927 679 35.2 
			 North Wales 2,201 776 35.3 2,225 749 33.7 
			 North Yorkshire 2,258 794 35.2 2,076 757 36.5 
			 Northamptonshire 1,602 489 30.5 1,756 513 29.2 
			 Northumbria 4,991 2,172 43.5 4,695 2,027 43.2 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,528 1,270 36.0 3,649 1,300 35.6 
			 South Wales 4,717 1,753 37.2 4,859 1,756 36.1 
			 South Yorkshire 4,548 1,576 34.7 4,500 1,594 35.4 
			 Staffordshire 2,823 776 27.5 2,986 831 27.8 
			 Suffolk 1,534 544 35.5 1,390 505 36.3 
			 Surrey 1,769 552 31.2 1,542 483 31.3 
			 Sussex 3,421 1,154 33.7 3,496 1,108 31.7 
			 Thames Valley 3,757 1,260 33.5 4,009 1,331 33.2 
			 Warwickshire 1,235 375 30.4 1,094 302 27.6 
			 West Mercia 2,716 933 34.4 2,569 932 36.3 
		
	
	
		
			 West Midlands 8,753 2,736 31.3 7,709 2,275 29.5 
			 West Yorkshire 7,357 2,554 34.7 7,459 2,610 35.0 
			 Wiltshire 1,123 388 34.6 1,094 373 34.1 
			        
			 British Transport Police 1,266 473 37.4 1,238 447 36.1 
			        
			 Total 147,298 50,756 34.5 145,459 49,636 34.1 
			        
			 Custody       
			 Avon and Somerset 1,429 728 50.9 1,311 690 52.6 
			 Bedfordshire 658 289 43.9 577 258 44.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 850 421 49.5 830 407 49.0 
			 Cheshire 1,238 620 50.1 1,104 532 48.2 
			 City of London 157 66 42.0 173 74 42.8 
			 Cleveland 900 485 53.9 763 436 57.1 
			 Cumbria 696 340 48.9 560 297 53.0 
			 Derbyshire 1,239 556 44.9 1,105 508 46.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,341 615 45.9 1,192 571 47.9 
			 Dorset 648 300 46.3 544 254 46.7 
			 Durham 576 311 54.0 584 320 54.8 
			 Dyfed-Powys 381 167 43.8 341 161 47.2 
			 Essex 1,733 815 47.0 1,407 685 48.7 
			 Gloucestershire 489 231 47.2 385 186 48.3 
			 Greater Manchester 4,021 1,826 45.4 3,498 1,620 46.3 
			 Gwent 648 312 48.1 583 298 51.1 
			 Hampshire 1,747 850 48.7 1,670 821 49.2 
			 Hertfordshire 846 384 45.4 760 355 46.7 
			 Humberside 1,406 710 50.5 1,218 676 55.5 
			 Kent 1,536 695 45.2 1,370 619 45.2 
			 Lancashire 1,647 768 46.6 1,566 744 47.5 
			 Leicestershire 994 443 44.6 858 380 44.3 
			 Lincolnshire 589 223 37.9 522 227 43.5 
			 Merseyside 2,036 922 45.3 1,751 863 49.3 
			 Metropolitan Police 10,006 4,564 45.6 8,652 3,931 45.4 
			 Norfolk 873 404 46.3 668 334 50.0 
			 North Wales 963 484 50.3 873 406 46.5 
			 North Yorkshire 731 345 47.2 672 349 51.9 
			 Northamptonshire 907 368 40.6 914 374 40.9 
			 Northumbria 1,370 775 56.6 1,224 692 56.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,412 702 49.7 1,343 674 50.2 
			 South Wales 2,150 1,106 51.4 1,990 1,064 53.5 
			 South Yorkshire 2,028 953 47.0 1,651 763 46.2 
			 Staffordshire 1,398 593 42.4 1,292 546 42.3 
			 Suffolk 628 279 44.4 524 260 49.6 
			 Surrey 604 261 43.2 608 272 44.7 
			 Sussex 1,370 632 46.1 1,324 561 42.4 
			 Thames Valley 1,839 855 46.5 1,663 787 47.3 
			 Warwickshire 406 187 46.1 360 153 42.5 
			 West Mercia 1,017 466 45.8 922 419 45.4 
			 West Midlands 4,577 2,087 45.6 3,517 1,599 45.5 
			 West Yorkshire 2,714 1,234 45.5 2,464 1,139 46.2 
			 Wiltshire 341 147 43.1 294 126 42.9 
			        
			 British Transport Police 693 338 48.8 657 309 47.0 
			        
			 Total 63,832 29,857 46.8 56,284 26,740 47.5 
			 (1) The Police Force Area relates to the police force that recorded the offence which lead to an offender's inclusion in the offender cohort (i.e. the group of offenders for which re-offending is being measured). (2) This does not represent all offenders—offenders who were released from custody or commenced a court order are matched to the police national computer database and a certain proportion of these offenders who cannot be matched are excluded from the offender cohort. (3) Court Orders include Community Orders and Suspended Sentence Orders which were introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and came into force in April 2005.

Repossession Orders: Suffolk

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders have been issued for the repossession of homes in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (b) Suffolk county council area in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: The table shows the numbers of claims leading to orders being made for the repossession of property by mortgage lenders and landlords in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (b) Suffolk county between 2007 and 2012. The Ministry of Justice does not hold information at the local level on the total numbers of repossessions of property (including where keys are handed back voluntarily).
	These figures represent the numbers of claims leading to orders being made. This is more accurate than the number of orders, removing the double-counting of instances where a single claim leads to more than one order. It is also a more meaningful measure of the number of home owners who are subject to court repossession actions.
	These figures do not indicate how many properties have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order, such as where borrowers hand the keys back to the lender. Also, not all possession orders result in repossession. Many orders are suspended and if the borrower complies with the repayment arrangements set out in the suspended order the property will not be repossessed.
	The most recent data for claims leading to orders figures for all regions and local authority areas in England and Wales were recently published on 8 November 2012. This statistical bulletin is available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/civil-justice/mortgage-possession.htm
	In addition, statistics on mortgage and landlord possession claims leading to orders made in the county courts of England and Wales, 2000-11—breakdown by parliamentary constituencies is available in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			 Number of mortgage (1)  and landlord (2, 3 ) possession claims leading to orders made (4, 5, 6 ) for properties in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency (7, 8, 9 ) and (b) Suffolk county council, 2007-11 
			 Number 
			  Mortgage possession claims leading to an order made Landlord possession claims leading to an order made 
			  Bury St Edmunds constituency Suffolk county council Bury St Edmunds constituency Suffolk county council 
			 2007 65 700 100 820 
			 2008 105 925 150 890 
			 2009 70 700 145 1,095 
			 2010 55 545 130 890 
			 2011 65 525 140 1,110 
			 (1 )Includes all types of mortgage lenders. (2) Includes all types of landlord whether social or private. (3) Landlord actions include those made under both standard and accelerated procedures. Landlord actions via the accelerated procedure enables the orders to be made solely on the basis of written evidence for shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. (4 )The number of claims that lead to an order includes all claims in which the first order, whether outright or suspended, is made during the period. (5) The court, following a judicial decision, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (6) Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (7) Due to constituency boundary changes after 6 May 2012 UK parliamentary general election, the figures prior to 2010 Q1 (January to March) are based on the old boundaries. (8) All figures are rounded to the nearest 5. (9) All 2011 figures for Bury St Edmunds are provisional. Source: Ministry of Justice.

Working Hours: EU Law

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many narrative verdicts by coroners have found the European Working Time Directive to be contributing to the cause of death.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual statistics on the work of coroners in England and Wales, including inquest verdicts returned by coroners. Although this includes the number of narrative verdicts, details of individual verdicts are not always provided or are not provided in sufficient detail to determine how many find the European working time directive to be contributing to the cause of death.